The subjective experience of integrating paraplegia into one’s life
Abstract
This phenomenological study aimed to explore the subjective experience of integrating
paraplegia into the lives of individuals who have sustained injuries causing paraplegia. Semi-structured,
in-depth individual interviews were conducted with six participants with
paraplegia. The researcher utilised an availability sample by applying the snowball sampling
method. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed
using thematic content analysis. Initially a descriptive approach was followed and then an
interpretive approach. The main themes that emerged, are: Outdoing adversity through
posttraumatic growth; It is a unique life-long journey; It Takes Time; Initial Negative
Appraisal; A Turning Point; Positive Reappraisal of Life; Positive Reappraisal of Self and a
Positive Reappraisal of Relationships with Others. The findings suggest that all the
participants have overcome adversity and have surpassed their lives prior to paraplegia by
managing the challenges through personal and post-traumatic growth in the form of positive
rumination, adjustment and active emotion- and problem-focused coping. The limitations of
the study included the absence of in-depth investigation of sexual intimacy and bowel and
bladder issues, and the need for the inclusion of uneducated and socio-economic deprived
paraplegics. Future studies may focus on differentiation by means of education, age, socio-economic
status and the cause of paraplegia, the integration of bowel and bladder regulation
and sexual intimacy into the lives of the paraplegic individuals, their partners, caregivers and
families.
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- Health Sciences [2060]