The influence of social support on the lived experiences of spinal cord injured sportsmen

Authors: Rees, T., Smith, B. and Sparkes, A.C.

Journal: Sport Psychologist

Volume: 17

Issue: 2

Pages: 135-156

ISSN: 0888-4781

DOI: 10.1123/tsp.17.2.135

Abstract:

This study draws upon life history data to investigate the influence of social support on the lives of 6 men who had acquired a spinal cord injury and become disabled through playing sport. Interviews were analyzed utilizing categorical-content analysis (Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, & Zilber, 1998). The participants experienced emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible support (Rees & Hardy, 2000) from various sources. Alongside the positive influence of social support, examples are shown of inappropriate or negatively-experienced support and where participants considered sport to be lacking, The spinal cord injured person is encouraged to be proactive in resourcing-social support, but providers might also be taught to recognize the impact, either positively or negatively, that their giving support can have.

Source: Scopus