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We are not the same people we used to be: an exploration of family biographical narratives and identity change following traumatic brain injury

Whiffin, Charlotte Jane; Ellis-Hill, Caroline; Bailey, Christopher; Jarrett, Nikki; Hutchinson, P.J.

Authors

Charlotte Jane Whiffin

Caroline Ellis-Hill

Christopher Bailey

Nikki Jarrett

P.J. Hutchinson



Abstract

Subjective changes are increasingly recognised as important in recovery and rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury. Accumulation of subjective changes over time has led many to examine the question of “continuity of self” post-injury. Vacillation between feeling the same and different is common and often at odds with the medical narrative preparing families for permanent change. This position of ambiguity was examined in a qualitative narrative study. The aim of this paper is to describe the narrative structures used by uninjured members of a family to understand change. These changes relate primarily, to their perspective of whether and how the injured person had changed, but also secondarily to whether and why they themselves felt they had changed in the first year post-injury. Nine uninjured family members from three families took part in three unstructured interviews during the first twelve months post-injury. In-depth narrative analysis showed family members used biographical attendance; biographical disruption; biographical continuity; and biographical reconstruction to understand change. Drawing on these findings it is argued that concentrating on a narrative of change is too limiting and that engaging in biographical narratives may help humanise care provided to injured individuals and their families. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Citation

Whiffin, C. J., Ellis-Hill, C., Bailey, C., Jarrett, N., & Hutchinson, P. (in press). We are not the same people we used to be: an exploration of family biographical narratives and identity change following traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2017.1387577

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 27, 2017
Online Publication Date Oct 26, 2017
Deposit Date Mar 29, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Print ISSN 0960-2011
Electronic ISSN 1464-0694
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2017.1387577
Keywords Traumatic brain injury, Family, Rehabilitation, Identity, Change
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/890182
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09602011.2017.1387577