Cerebral palsy is a complex condition and stressor, posing specific challenges to the affected
individual and those involved. According to the literature, existing studies do not reflect the
subjective experience and self-reporting of the person with a disability (Lutz & Bowers, 2005;
Reeve, 2006; Singh & Ghai, 2009; Stalker, 2012; Tisdall, 2012; Watermeyer & Swartz, 2008;
Watson, 2012). Thus, this study attempts to let the voices be heard of adolescents with cerebral
palsy in order to gain new insight into the way in which they ascribe meaning to disability,
manage their disability and overcome social, physical and emotional barriers. A qualitative
approach within a psychofortigenic framework was followed in the study. The role of psychosocial
factors in the psychological resilience of the adolescent with cerebral palsy was
investigated in order to include the strength perspective. The theories, frameworks and models of
the positive psychology paradigm were used as theoretical foundation to the study. Analysis and
interpretation of data from the six semi-structured interviews was done by means of
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Furthermore, the identified themes were
contextualised within an ecological systems framework according to intrapsychic, interpersonal
and broader community factors. A preliminary conceptual process model was compiled from the
cross-case analysis and describes the interrelationship and general dynamics of the experience of
disability as well as the role of psychosocial factors (risk and protective factors) in the
psychological resilience of the adolescents with cerebral palsy. The results confirm the impact
and experience of disability as a multi-layered phenomenon and that each individual ascribes
unique meaning to it according to personality traits, needs, emotional and social support, life
contexts and life demands. The need of the adolescent with cerebral palsy to be recognised and
treated as a unique individual is central in this study. The experience of disability within the
broader social community does not only have a psycho-emotional effect on the person with a
disability, but also psycho-social implications. Risk and protective factors are interacting in a
multi-levelled way and the adolescent applies personal and contextual sources of power in order
to ensure positive outcomes. The value of this study is letting the voices be heard of people with
a disability regarding their lived reality of disability and psychological sources of resilience. The
knowledge gathered in this study can also contribute to improved aid, support and understanding
of the person with a disability.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-07162013-155155 |
| Date | 16 July 2013 |
| Creators | Visser, Dirkie Amalia |
| Contributors | Dr RBI Beukes, Dr L Nel |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-07162013-155155/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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