Abstract
This research aimed at understanding the interactional processes people with a traumatic spinal cord injury utilise to sustain a better-than-expected outcome. The research was conducted with five participants, all of whom had experienced rehabilitation and had sustained a level of functional independence. The research explored the common resilience enablers the participants utilised in the personal, relational, environmental, and spiritual realm on their journey towards adaptation. The researcher focused on identifying the interactional processes that allowed the participants to leverage a better-than-expected outcome. The findings indicate that the interactional processes utilised were, investing in connection, steering my support ship, being open and empowering myself. Investing in connection refers to the participants’ ability to nurture important relationships around them. It was through these connections that the participants were able to seek reliable and consistent sources of support. Steering my support ship was a process that the participants utilised to ensure that they could guide their own support system, to render the support that was beneficial, and the knowledge of who to go to when one sought specific kinds of support. Being open was an interactional processes that the participants utilised when taking opportunities and empowering myself was the mental, emotional journey the participants reached. The findings showed that this final process allowed them to leverage the other interactional processes more successfully. The research has enhanced the understanding of these interactional processes and will inform social work intervention early in the rehabilitation process. This study followed a qualitative research design, informed by grounded theory procedures. The population for the research was obtained by using purposive, non-probability sampling techniques. Data was gathered by conducting two semi-structured interviews with each participant. The data was analysed thematically, and pseudonyms were utilised to enhance confidentiality.
M.A. (Clinical Social Work)