Masculine Identity After Traumatic Brain Injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Masculine Identity After Traumatic Brain Injury
IRAS ID
169254
Contact name
Ruth MacQueen
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
The study aims to explore the experience of masculine identity for men who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Existing literature has demonstrated relationships between masculine identity and men’s experience of adjusting to physical health difficulties. TBI can impact on cognitive, behavioural, emotional and physical functioning and a change in personal identity is well evidenced within existing research. However, there is little research which specifically focusses on masculine identity after TBI. The higher incidence of TBI in men suggests that masculine identity is a key influence in this population and therefore an important consideration for engagement and outcomes in rehabilitation.
As masculine identity and life events have individual meaning for a person, the experience of masculine identity needs to be considered from the perspective of the individual. In order to achieve this, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) has been identified as a suitable methodology. IPA considers the individual’s everyday lived experience as situated in social and cultural contexts. It is therefore most often used in health research which considers the lived experience of an illness.
The research study will recruit men aged 18-64 years from an NHS Specialist Rehabilitation Service. Clinicians working in the service will identify potential participants and will provide them with initial information about the study and seek consent to share contact details with the Chief Investigator. Potential participants can then be contacted. Where consent is given, the participant will take part in a semi-structured interview which will last around one hour. The interview aims to explore the individual’s experience and participants will be encouraged to give examples from their lives.The data will then be analysed using IPA methodology. The final write up of the analysis will be submitted in the form of a doctoral thesis and an edited version will also submitted for publication.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0073
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion