| Summary: | The importance of understanding the psychosocial adaptation to spinal
cord injury (SCI) is well documented. From a symbolic interactionist
perspective, peer interaction is relevant because it is through socialization
that meaning is shared, allowing one to develop a sense of self (Chenitz &
Swanson, 1986). Despite this, very little is known about the relationships that
develop among persons with SCI. The purpose of this study was to reveal the
perceptions of spinal cord injured patients of the relationships formed with
their peers.
Grounded theory was the research method used in this study.
Interviews were conducted with seven people who were recovering from a SCI
in a rehabilitation institution. The interview transcripts were analyzed using
the methods described by Corbin (1986) and Strauss and Corbin (1990). Data
analysis resulted in a description of the meaning of peer relationships to these
SCI patients.
Sample subjects provided a context through which the remainder of the
data were viewed. Findings that contributed to this context were that subjects
formed peer relationships in the rehabilitation setting and developed
relationships only with staff while in acute care. As well, the development of
peer relationships was strongly influenced by the maturational stage of each
participant.
With this context, the remainder of the data comprised the description
of the participants' perceptions of peer relationships. The description
encompassed two categories. The first described the variety of causal
conditions under which peer relationships developed and was called
Conditions for Peer Relationships. The second category, named Consequences
of Peer Relationships, described the ways in which the SCI patients interacted
and the results of those interactions. The data in this category fell into two
sub-categories which were called Information Sharing and Gathering, and
Caring.
Analysis of the data about SCI peer relationships revealed that the
subjects viewed these relationships as meaningful to their recovery process.
Subjects identified tangible outcomes of their peer relationships which
assisted them in coping from day to day. Further interpretation of the data
revealed that peer relationships also contributed to the development of the
new sense of self that the subjects were forming which incorporated their SCI. === Applied Science, Faculty of === Nursing, School of === Graduate
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