Identity development among veterans with spinal cord injury: A qualitative study.
Lauren L Mitchell, Erica Johnsen-Buss
PMID 39946622WHAT IT FOUND
Veterans with spinal cord injury rebuilt their identities by adapting activities to keep doing what mattered and by changing their self-concept to accept new roles.
Support from peers with similar injuries and engaging in active daily routines were central to this process.
Key findings
01Participants used assimilative strategies, such as adapting activities and dedicating effort to recovery, to maintain their core identities and reduce the need for identity adjustment.
02Accommodative strategies involved accepting necessary changes to identity, such as shifting career goals or letting go of certain social role aspects to focus on core relationships.
03Connecting with other people with disabilities served as a key support mechanism, providing role models and normalizing the experience, which helped participants envision possible futures.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was small (21 participants) and consisted only of veterans receiving VA care, which may limit generalizability to civilians or those with different healthcare access. The sample had limited gender diversity, with only one woman included. The study was qualitative, so it identifies themes and strategies but cannot measure the effectiveness of these strategies or establish causal links to well-being outcomes. Participants were mostly White, and Black individuals were underrepresented despite being disproportionately affected by spinal cord injuries.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the VA, but specific funding details or sponsor involvement in the design or analysis are not explicitly detailed in the provided text beyond the context of VA care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these strategies work for every patient or that they guarantee positive mental health outcomes. The study describes what veterans found helpful but does not prove that these specific actions cause identity integration or well-being.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →