DO PARTNERS EXPERIENCE POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH? Do partners of people that have acquired a spinal cord injury experience post-traumatic growth?

Thesis Abstract
Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive changes people can experience after a traumatic event, because of highly stressful life circumstances. Changes attributed to post-traumatic growth include changes in life philosophy, personal growth and more meaningful relationships. The person closest to an individual is often their partner, and whilst something is known about post-traumatic growth after a spinal cord injury, the experiences of partners of people with spinal cord injury are much less researched. This project aims to gain insight of the experience of post-traumatic growth for non-injured partners.
The literature review focuses on the experiences of post-traumatic growth when a partner has had a spinal cord injury. Published articles were identified, searched and critically appraised. The following themes emerged: burden of care, coping strategies, time for self and independence, communication, support, better relationships and leisure. The review highlighted a gap in the evidence base regarding the experiences of post-traumatic growth in partners of people who have had a spinal cord injury.
The empirical paper investigates this phenomenon. A qualitative methodology analysis, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), was conducted in order to explore the experiences of post-traumatic growth in partners of people who have experienced spinal cord injury. The themes were identified from an analysis of partner interviews. The implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Finally, the reflective review presents the researcher’s experience of the research project throughout the process. The author offers a reflective account of the research journey, and discusses the issues that arose relating to ethics, confidentiality and power differentials.