title: Resilience following spinal cord injury: a phenomenological view.
abstract: METHODS
  Qualitative research design involving semi-structured focus groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To increase current understanding of how persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) define resilience and what factors contribute to their resilience or the resilience of others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban city in the Southwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 28 participants (14 current patients; 14 former patients) participated in semi-structured focus groups led by the research investigators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through a constant comparative analysis of the data, six themes emerged in participants' responses regarding what they believed contributed to their own resilience in adapting to SCI. The six themes included psychological strength, social support, perspective, adaptive coping, spirituality or faith, and serving as a role model or inspiring others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with previous research findings, individuals with SCI identified positive thinking (for example, optimism, hope and positive attitude), perseverance and determination, and social support from friends and family as important contributors to their ability to adapt in spite of experiencing traumatic events that resulted in SCI. Findings provide richness and depth to current empirical conceptualizations of resilience.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Education, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Monden
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Addictions, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Symcox
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Population Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Driver
authors.affiliation: Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult