Article

OBJECTIVE: Explore the individual, adolescent phenomeno-logy of quality of life
after traumatic brain injury. SUBJECTS : Adolescent survivors of
traumatic brain injury. METHODS: Qualitative interviews with 10 adolescents, mean
age at assessment 17.09 years (SD 1.81). Mean time since injury 4.62 years (SD
2.89). Data were analysed using a primarily interpretative phenomenological
analysis approach. RESULTS: Two major findings: (1) perceived quality of life was
not automatically impacted by a traumatic brain injury, but when it was, the
directionality of impact (positive, negative) varied depending on the
life-domain; (2) changes in ability post-traumatic brain injury were attributed
to the injury (more often cognitive and physical changes) or to a sense of normal
maturation processes (72% and 28%, respectively). Attribution processing
permeated themes of personal and social discrepancies, which also yielded themes
of: altered family and relationships, roles, responsibilities, independence,
coping and post-traumatic growth. All participants reported a happy life at the
time of interview. CONCLUSION: The adolescents' appraisal of their identity from
pre- to post-injury life was related to their current sense of well-being. Most
notably was the sense of balance; participants addressed the negative and
positive consequences of brain injury to qualify their sense of wellbeing.

Langue : ANGLAIS