A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers
Purpose Resilience research in family caregiving in chronic neurological conditions is growing, but multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers are noticeably absent from this body of work. MS caregivers represent a unique population due to the disease’s early onset, prolonged life expectancy, and heterogene...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2135480 |
| _version_ | 1797960630349594624 |
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| author | Odessa McKenna Afolasade Fakolade Katherine Cardwell Lara A. Pilutti |
| author_facet | Odessa McKenna Afolasade Fakolade Katherine Cardwell Lara A. Pilutti |
| author_sort | Odessa McKenna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Resilience research in family caregiving in chronic neurological conditions is growing, but multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers are noticeably absent from this body of work. MS caregivers represent a unique population due to the disease’s early onset, prolonged life expectancy, and heterogeneity. As such, this study aimed to explore MS caregivers’ conceptualizations of resilience, examine MS caregivers’ experiences of resilience development, and determine which assets and resources influence resilience in this role. Methods Twenty-four Canadian MS caregivers were recruited. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with questions derived from an ecological resilience framework. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Themes constructed a cyclical resilience model, beginning with encounters with hardship and extending to thriving adjustment. Subthemes included reports of additive challenges, impactful individual and community resources, and multi-level adaptive pathways. Within this cycle, the achievement of healthy adjustment exerted a positive feedback function and informed future responses to lifelong challenges. Conclusions Despite the salience of resilience processes within caregiver testimonies, inadequate resources at societal levels were evident. These findings afford researchers and decision-makers relevant information for designing and implementing resilience-building interventions for MS caregivers that attend to contextual factors and current systemic support deficiencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6832f5fff4f4b2a944231fbb9d7e75e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6832f5fff4f4b2a944231fbb9d7e75e2023-01-05T12:01:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312022-12-0117110.1080/17482631.2022.21354802135480A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregiversOdessa McKenna0Afolasade Fakolade1Katherine Cardwell2Lara A. Pilutti3University of OttawaQueen’s UniversityUniversity of OttawaUniversity of OttawaPurpose Resilience research in family caregiving in chronic neurological conditions is growing, but multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers are noticeably absent from this body of work. MS caregivers represent a unique population due to the disease’s early onset, prolonged life expectancy, and heterogeneity. As such, this study aimed to explore MS caregivers’ conceptualizations of resilience, examine MS caregivers’ experiences of resilience development, and determine which assets and resources influence resilience in this role. Methods Twenty-four Canadian MS caregivers were recruited. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with questions derived from an ecological resilience framework. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Themes constructed a cyclical resilience model, beginning with encounters with hardship and extending to thriving adjustment. Subthemes included reports of additive challenges, impactful individual and community resources, and multi-level adaptive pathways. Within this cycle, the achievement of healthy adjustment exerted a positive feedback function and informed future responses to lifelong challenges. Conclusions Despite the salience of resilience processes within caregiver testimonies, inadequate resources at societal levels were evident. These findings afford researchers and decision-makers relevant information for designing and implementing resilience-building interventions for MS caregivers that attend to contextual factors and current systemic support deficiencies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2135480resiliencefamily caregiversmultiple sclerosisinterviewsthematic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Odessa McKenna Afolasade Fakolade Katherine Cardwell Lara A. Pilutti A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being resilience family caregivers multiple sclerosis interviews thematic analysis |
| title | A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| title_full | A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| title_fullStr | A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| title_short | A continuum of languishing to flourishing: exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| title_sort | continuum of languishing to flourishing exploring experiences of psychological resilience in multiple sclerosis family caregivers |
| topic | resilience family caregivers multiple sclerosis interviews thematic analysis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2135480 |
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