TY - JOUR
T1 - Supporting children and young people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and their siblings
T2 - The experience of a camp for families with a child with an ABI
AU - Analytis, Penelope
AU - Warren, Narelle
AU - Ponsford, Jennie
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank the children, young people and parents for participating in our research and the Heads Together for ABI organization for their assistance. Author PA received support through an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) is associated with long-term negative sequelae, and families must continually adapt to meet the needs of the child with ABI and family members. Condition-specific camps may support families in this process. This study explored the experience of camps for children with ABI and their families from the perspective of children and young people with ABI and their siblings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people with ABI (M age = 23.93, SD = 16.52 years) and 19 siblings of people with ABI (M age = 14.53, SD = 5.73 years). Using reflexive thematic analysis, the central theme identified was “My safe space,” supported by three further themes: “Having fun and relaxing,” “Making friends,” and “Enjoying choices.” Camp was a space where the shared understanding and acceptance of ABI created a sense of safety. This was facilitated by enjoying activities, developing friendships with peers who shared the experience of ABI, and having a sense of control through choice availability. Thus, camps appear to offer opportunities to enjoy typical childhood experiences while restoring a sense of security, increasing understanding of ABI and validating attendees’ experiences. Camps may, therefore, offer low-cost interventions to support children with ABI and their families.
AB - Paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) is associated with long-term negative sequelae, and families must continually adapt to meet the needs of the child with ABI and family members. Condition-specific camps may support families in this process. This study explored the experience of camps for children with ABI and their families from the perspective of children and young people with ABI and their siblings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people with ABI (M age = 23.93, SD = 16.52 years) and 19 siblings of people with ABI (M age = 14.53, SD = 5.73 years). Using reflexive thematic analysis, the central theme identified was “My safe space,” supported by three further themes: “Having fun and relaxing,” “Making friends,” and “Enjoying choices.” Camp was a space where the shared understanding and acceptance of ABI created a sense of safety. This was facilitated by enjoying activities, developing friendships with peers who shared the experience of ABI, and having a sense of control through choice availability. Thus, camps appear to offer opportunities to enjoy typical childhood experiences while restoring a sense of security, increasing understanding of ABI and validating attendees’ experiences. Camps may, therefore, offer low-cost interventions to support children with ABI and their families.
KW - Children and adolescents
KW - Family support
KW - Paediatric acquired brain injury
KW - Qualitative interviews
KW - Recreational camps
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102289006&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09602011.2020.1731556
DO - 10.1080/09602011.2020.1731556
M3 - Article
C2 - 32098596
AN - SCOPUS:85102289006
SN - 0960-2011
VL - 31
SP - 797
EP - 813
JO - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
JF - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
IS - 5
ER -