Indicators of life success from the perspective of individuals with traumatic brain injury: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose was to synthesize qualitative literature and identify indicators of life success (positive life outcomes and experiences) that can help in understanding resiliency in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

This scoping review involved searching nine online databases for population (TBI) and context (qualitative literature). Searches retrieved 42 852 articles and, after two-stage screening, 76 articles met the inclusion criteria of reporting indicators of life success from the perspective of individuals with TBI.

Results

Most studies were conducted in North America, Australia, or Europe. Participants were people living with TBI (mild to severe), of all age ranges. Positive life experiences were organized within four domains: understanding of oneself and one’s life, social relationships and interaction, doing (engagement in activities, sense of control and accomplishment), and hope for the future.

Conclusions

The positive life experiences reflect both processes and outcomes (indicators of success) and highlight the need for a multidimensional approach when seeking to understand resiliency following TBI. The transactional framework of life experiences can be applied in future TBI resiliency research to understand how individuals negotiate adversity through experiences promoting understanding of oneself and the world, social relationships, engagement in activity and hope.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation services should consider how to afford opportunities for engagement in activity, social interaction, meaning making (i.e., coming to new understandings), and hope.

• With respect to engaging in activity and social relationships, having social interaction, being understood, being active and productive, having autonomy, and having accomplishments, reflect important experiences to enable within rehabilitation services.

• Rehabilitation professionals should consider how providing opportunities for their clients to have positive life experiences may contribute toward an adaptive and empowered mindset.

Keywords:

• Resiliency
• adaptation
• participation
• identity
• social
• hope
• review

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge members of the TBI-Resiliency Collective who provided feedback on the review findings and implications for research and service delivery.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Partnership Development Grant from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Dr. Nalder holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Resiliency and Rehabilitation funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and a March of Dimes Canada, Paul J.J. Martin Early Career Professorship. Dr. King holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Optimal Care for Children with Disabilities funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.