Perspectives on supporting social connection and participation following acquired brain injury: a qualitative study of professionals across health and community settings

Ayden, Jordan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2820-7748, Hanson, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4751-8248, Ajayi, Julia and Gracey, Fergus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1416-7894 (2026) Perspectives on supporting social connection and participation following acquired brain injury: a qualitative study of professionals across health and community settings. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. ISSN 0960-2011 (In Press)

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Abstract

Social isolation is a prevalent consequence of acquired brain injury (ABI) that has notable impacts on wellbeing. Although social connection is recognised as central to recovery, little is known about how service providers understand and promote it. This study explored how services foster social connection post-ABI, the barriers and enablers encountered, how success is understood and what could strengthen future provision. Six online focus groups were conducted with 19 individuals working or volunteering across ABI services in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. Data were analysed using reflective thematic analysis from a critical realist perspective, allowing attention to both participants’ experiences and the organisational and structural conditions influencing service delivery. Two themes were developed: (1) Groups as psychosocial lifelines: safety, identity and providing the conditions for recovery, capturing the role of group spaces in rebuilding connection, identity, confidence and belonging and (2) Visible impact, invisible labour: plugging gaps in a precarious system, highlighting the undervalued relational work of the workforce in resource-constrained systems and how unstable funding and inequalities shape access to support. These findings demonstrate the psychosocial value of group-based initiatives and reveal the structural mechanisms that shape their development, sustainability and accessibility.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	acquired brain injury,social connection,social isolation,health and social care services,third-sector services,qualitative research,focus groups
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Implementation Science EAST Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Nutrition and Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2026 13:23
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2026 13:23
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104644
DOI:	issn:0960-2011

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