Identity related to living situation in six individuals with congenital quadriplegia.
OBJECTIVE
This study was a preliminary examination of structural aspects of identity, particularly identity associated with living situation, in individuals who have quadriplegia due to cerebral palsy.


METHODS
A hierarchical classes algorithm (HICLAS) was used to construct idiographic 'identity structure' models for three individuals who are living in an inpatient hospital setting and for three individuals living in community-based group residences.


RESULTS
Indices derived from the models indicate that the identity 'myself as one who has a disability' was structurally superordinate (i.e., resided at a high hierarchical level) for all six participants, suggesting a high level of importance of this identity in participants' sense of self. The models also indicate that while identity associated with one's particular living situation was superordinate for persons living in the hospital, it was not for persons living in community residences.


CONCLUSIONS
While conclusions based on this small sample are necessarily limited, the data suggest that identity associated with living situation might differ in structural centrality, and presumably subjective importance, for persons living in inpatient versus community-based settings.
Robey
Kenneth L
KL
Matheny Institute for Research in Developmental Disabilities, Matheny Medical and Educational Center, Peapack 07977, USA. research@matheny.org
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012933:Social Identification