Shared and individual perspectives in couples' relationships after ABI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Shared and individual perspectives in couples' relationships following Acquired Brain Injury
IRAS ID
168840
Contact name
Helen R Moore
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Acquired brain injury (ABI) has a profound impact on relationships (Yeates & Daisley, 2013) as roles change and the person with ABI becomes a care-receiver and family members become caregivers. Although rehabilitation outcomes are related to family functioning (Sander et al., 2002; 2003), ABI is consistently associated with relational breakdown, such as increased divorce rates (Godwin et al., 2011). It is important to explore what happens to relationships after ABI and to identify factors which help and hinder adaptation. As relationships are complex, many factors are likely to be relevant in answering these questions. One change identified in the literature is that divergences of perspective may appear within the relationship, in areas such as identity, role change and the impact of the injury (see appendix 3, annotated bibliography). However, research on divergences of perspective is in its infancy and the extent of the impact of such divergences on individuals and relationships is yet to be explored.
To help explore divergences of perspective and the impact of these on individuals and relationships after ABI, couples will be recruited for this qualitative study. A maximum of 5 couples, where one partner experienced an ABI at least 6 months ago will be recruited from NHS community rehabilitation centres in the Midlands.
Participants will each take part in an information session and two semi-structured interviews in two separate sessions. Participation in the project will take a total of 2 hours 45 minutes. Couples will first be interviewed together to explore co-constructions of the relationship before and after injury, as well as shared divergences of perspective. A subsequent interview will be carried out with each partner individually to explore personal constructions of the relationship. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis will be used to analyse interviews. The project will take place over 20 months from March 2015 to October 2016.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0125
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion