The Role of Leisure in the Experience of Posttraumatic Growth for People with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the role of leisure in the experience of posttraumatic growth (PTG) for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). In-depth interviewing was employed to explore the characteristics of PTG for 15 participants, including two negative cases. The results of thematic analysis revealed that leisure influenced at least four aspects of life experience, directly related to four emergent themes: (a) providing opportunities to find personal strengths and abilities, (b) building companionship and meaningful relationships, (c) making sense of traumatic experience and finding meaning in everyday life, and (d) generating positive emotions. This study found a vital role of meaningful engagement in activities for experiencing PTG. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.KEYWORDS: Leisuremeaningful engagementposttraumatic growthspinal cord injury