Current deficits in the rehabilitation psychology literature involving longitudinal studies investigating positive outcomes following acquired disabilities have deserved research attention. In the current study, data on happiness as an enduring mood tone, as measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI) was collected from 1271 individuals (“insiders”) having incurred either a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), severe burn, or intra-articular fracture (IAF) or from someone who felt close enough to speak on their behalf (“outsiders”). Data on happiness, functional independence as measured by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and other variables of interest were collected at 12 months, 24 months, 48 months, and 60 months after being medically discharged. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) analyses showed that trajectories of happiness remained stable across participants and did not change significantly over five years post-discharge regardless of injury type, FIM, or insider/outsider status. Happiness was significantly predicted by FIM, injury type, and whether the respondent was an insider or outsider. Those who were more impaired and less functionally independent were less happy. Those with a TBI were consistently less happy than those with an IAF or SCI and outsiders reported greater happiness on behalf of the insider than did the insiders themselves. This study shows that there is stability in happiness levels that can be sustained at least five years post-discharge and that there are discrepancies between insider and outsider reports of subjective happiness. Proxy reports can be used as valuable and valid secondary sources of information but should not be used as substitutes for first hand reports unless absolutely necessary.

The transformative process of personal growth following suffering and challenges, or posttraumatic growth (PTG), is limited in persons with acquired disability. The dimensions of acquired disability, as outlined by the World Health Organization, include impairments in body functions, body structures, and growth restrictions in activities and participation. The 5 domains of PTG include personal strength, new possibilities, relating to other people, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Using discriminant function analysis, the purpose of this quantitative study was to identify a discriminant analysis of the dimensions of acquired disability on the domains of posttraumatic growth. The first research question focused on investigating the number of statistically significant uncorrelated linear combinations. The second research question reviewed the multivariate profile (or profiles if there is more than one statistically significant function) of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory domains that discriminant the dimensions of acquired disability. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data from 161 individuals with acquired disability who were over 18 years of age and were at least 1 year postdiagnosis. Participants were invited to participate using a Facebook page and targeted advertising, as well as personal invitations to online support groups advocating for persons with acquired disability. This study and analysis only found 1 significant pairwise connection between impairment in body structure and growth, activity, and participation with the PTG domain of personal strength. Results may be used to guide the planning and implementation of aftercare programs for individuals diagnosed with an acquired disability to help promote PTG.

The acquirement of a disability (e.g., spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, multi trauma) is a risk factor for psychological disturbance (e.g., depression). Research has established that social support and secure attachment are protective factors against psychological disturbance. Attachment patterns have also been associated with differences in perceived social support. Secure attachment and higher perceived social support have been implicated in greater levels of resilience but need to be validated with a population of individuals who have acquired a disability. The Experiences in Close Relationships, Social Provisions Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Personal Health Questionnaire - 9 Depression Scale, and a Demographic were administered to 102 adult inpatients at a rehabilitation hospital undergoing an individualized rehabilitation program. Two MANOVAs were conducted to examine the direct associations of attachment classifications with the major dependent variables, as well as the various social support subscales. Path analysis tested two mediational models suggested by literature. Model 1 assessed the mediating role of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on the effect of social support on depression and resilience. Model 2 assessed the mediating role of social support on the effect of attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance on depression and resilience. Partial support was obtained for both models based on fit indices. A small but significant difference in the fit of the models was found, favoring Model 1. Clinical and research implications for this population and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Detta arbete har undersökt fredsduvan som symbol i ukrainska krigsaffischer och vilken påverkan dess gestaltning får för slut resultatet. Syftet med arbetet var att skapa en djupare förståelse i hur en traditionell symbol, i detta fall fredsduvan, kan användas för att skapa en opinion för ett specifikt ändamål. Studien har genomförts genom en kvalitativ metod i form av en semiotisk visuell analys där materialet undersökts genom denotation och konnotation för att slutligen sättas i relation till det teoretiska ramverket. Teorin som applicerats är bland annat representation, semiotik och propaganda. Resultatet visar att fredsduvan tar på sig olika roller beroende på den kontext den gestaltas i men gemensamt för samtliga affischer är att den tydligt tar ställning för Ukrainas sak och den blir en symbol för att bygga upp sympatier i västvärlden. Som en del av mitt examensarbete har jag också gjort en medieproduktion. Syftet med denna var att göra om illustrationerna till Unicef Ukraina och Dzerelos befintliga broschyr ”Förvärvad funktionsnedsättning hos ett barn. Tips till föräldrar och pedagoger” med en mer positiv och inkluderande gestaltning av barn med funktionsnedsättning, samt att genom illustrationerna att inspirera och skapa en känsla av hoppfullhet hos målgruppen. / This thesis has investigated the dove of peace as a symbol in Ukrainian war posters and what affect its depiction have for the final result. The aim of the thesis was to create a deeper understanding of how traditional symbols, in this case the dove of peace, can be used to create an opinion for a specific purpose. The study was performed through a qualitative method in the shape of a semiotic visual analysis where the material was analyzed by using denotation and connotation and finally put in relation to the theoretical framework. Applied theory includes representation, semiotics, and propaganda. The result shows that the dove of peace takes on different roles depending on the context it is depicted in, but all posters have one thing in common and that is that it takes a clear stand for Ukraine’s cause, and it becomes symbol to create sympathy in the western world. As part of my degree project, I have also done a media production. The objective of this was to redo the illustrations for Unicef Ukraine and Dzerelo's existing brochure "Children with Acquired Disabilities. Guidelines for Parents and Professionals" with more positive and inclusive portrayal of children with disabilities, as well as to inspire and create a feeling of hope among the target group through the illustrations.