Survivor and Family Experiences following Acquired Brain Injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Survivor and Family Experiences Following Acquired Brain Injury
IRAS ID
297539
Contact name
Hannah Frith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 17 days
Research summary
This study aims to better understand the experiences of both survivors of an acquired brain injury (ABI) and their family members. The data will be collected by two trainee clinical psychologists at the University of Surrey. Each researcher has a specific research interest and will use the collected data in line with this. Part A of the study will look at how loss is experienced by family members and survivors and how this may impact on adjustment and adversarial growth (positive psychological changes as a result of highly challenging life circumstances) (Tedeschi, Shakespeare-Finch, Taku, & Calhoun, 2018). Part B of the study will explore family adjustment following ABI, how identity is reconstructed within the family and how this relates to adversarial growth. It focuses on family relationships, dynamics and interactions and how these relate to people’s experiences of ABI. It is hoped that this deeper understanding could lead to advancing the support and interventions available to survivors and family members in the future. To be eligible for the study, participants would either be a survivor of ABI or a family member. The survivors will chose who they class as family members. Recruitment is planned to take place at the Disabilities Trust and Headway Surrey. The Disabilities Trust offers neuro-rehabilitation and care to survivors with moderate to severe ABI. Headway offers community rehabilitation and support to survivors of ABI and their family members. Participants will be asked to take part in two or three online, in-depth, semi-structured, family interviews. In all interviews a series of open ended questions will be used to guide conversation. The topics may include changes and sameness within the family since the ABI, challenges faced by the family, people’s responses to the ABI and the support participants have received. The total interview time will be around 180 minutes.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0090
Date of REC Opinion
7 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion