Abstract
Purpose: To explore the psychosocial outcomes of an inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course that aims to support the rehabilitation and personal development of military personnel who have sustained physical and/or psychological disability.
Method: Narrative life story interviews were conducted with 11 men aged 20–43 taking part in one of the 5-day courses. A thematic narrative analysis was conducted, focusing on accounts that provided insights into personally meaningful psychosocial outcomes of the course.
Findings: We identified six themes, falling into two distinct clusters. “Bringing me back to myself” was achieved through the themes of (1) returning to activity, (2) rediscovering a sense of purpose, and (3) reconnecting to others. “New rooms to explore” was realised through (4) experiencing new activities, (5) being valued/respected/cared for and (6) being inspired by other people.
Conclusion: Involvement in the course stimulated a balance of present- and future-oriented psychosocial outcomes through which participants both recreated aspects of themselves that had been lost through injury/trauma and moved forward with their lives as a result of new horizons of possibility.
Implications for Rehabilitation This 5-day inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course offered meaningful psychosocial outcomes among military personnel who had experienced physical and/or psychological disability.
The course helped participants recover aspects of their previous life and self through becoming physically active again, rediscovering a sense of purpose and reconnecting to others.
Participants describe a broadening of life horizons as a result of the course, through new activities, being valued/respected/cared for, and being inspired by other people.
Method: Narrative life story interviews were conducted with 11 men aged 20–43 taking part in one of the 5-day courses. A thematic narrative analysis was conducted, focusing on accounts that provided insights into personally meaningful psychosocial outcomes of the course.
Findings: We identified six themes, falling into two distinct clusters. “Bringing me back to myself” was achieved through the themes of (1) returning to activity, (2) rediscovering a sense of purpose, and (3) reconnecting to others. “New rooms to explore” was realised through (4) experiencing new activities, (5) being valued/respected/cared for and (6) being inspired by other people.
Conclusion: Involvement in the course stimulated a balance of present- and future-oriented psychosocial outcomes through which participants both recreated aspects of themselves that had been lost through injury/trauma and moved forward with their lives as a result of new horizons of possibility.
Implications for Rehabilitation This 5-day inclusive adapted sport and adventurous training course offered meaningful psychosocial outcomes among military personnel who had experienced physical and/or psychological disability.
The course helped participants recover aspects of their previous life and self through becoming physically active again, rediscovering a sense of purpose and reconnecting to others.
Participants describe a broadening of life horizons as a result of the course, through new activities, being valued/respected/cared for, and being inspired by other people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2081-2088 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Disability and Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 19 Jun 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- armed forces
- mental health
- narrative
- physical activity
- recovery
- soldiers
