title: Exploring positive adjustment in people with spinal cord injury.
abstract: This study explored adjustment in people with spinal cord injury; data from four focus groups are presented. Thematic analysis revealed four themes, managing goals and expectations, comparison with others, feeling useful and acceptance, showing participants positively engaged in life, positively interpreted social comparison information and set realistic goals and expectations. These positive strategies show support for adjustment theories, such as the Cognitive Adaptation Theory, the Control Process Theory and Response Shift Theory. These results also provide insight into the adjustment process of a person with spinal cord injury and may be useful in tailoring support during rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Brunel University, UK bridget.dibb@brunel.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dibb
authors.affiliation: Bournemouth University, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis-Hill
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donovan-Hall
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burridge
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rushton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001524:Behavioral Medicine; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: focus groups; positive adjustment; qualitative; spinal cord injury; thematic analysis