Understanding the processes and practices involved in maintaining and sustaining social connectedness for people living with brain injury

Wolters, Leona (2022) Understanding the processes and practices involved in maintaining and sustaining social connectedness for people living with brain injury. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Context: Individuals living with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) often face psychosocial difficulties, including social isolation which has been associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes.

Aim: The thesis portfolio aims to improve our understanding of processes and practices involved in maintaining and sustaining social connectedness following ABI.

Method: Mixed methods were used to address the research aim. The systematic review identified published interventions addressing social isolation and connection in adults with ABI and narratively synthesised their effectiveness. The empirical paper used a Grounded Theory approach to investigate the processes involved and practices used by individuals living with ABI, family members/carers and community ABI support people in maintaining and developing social connectedness.

Results: The systematic review identified eleven heterogenous interventions with variable study quality. Six of the eleven reviewed interventions showed some statistical difference or small effect size on measures assessing constructs related to social isolation or connectedness. The empirical study suggests four interlinked processes to be involved in developing and/or maintaining social connectedness: understanding of oneself and from others, acceptance of oneself and from others, rebuilding confidence and creating safe spaces. Practices used slightly differed both within and between participant groups.

Conclusion: The findings suggest how individuals can be best supported to maintain and sustain social connections following ABI by using strategies themselves and in their wider community, which proposes a framework to guide clinical practice. Further research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions addressing social connection and isolation

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	James Tweddle
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2022 16:45
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2022 16:45
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/89693
DOI:

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