Growth and adversity in disability sport following spinal cord injury

Book chapter

Brighton, J. 2020. Growth and adversity in disability sport following spinal cord injury. in: Wadey, R., Day M. and Howells, K. (ed.) Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A Mechanism to Positive Change London Routledge, Taylor and Francis. pp. 174-188

Publication dates
Authors	Brighton, J.
Editors	Wadey, R., Day M. and Howells, K.
Abstract	Within this chapter a structural narrative analysis (Riessman, 2008) is provided to help explore the multiple storylines that four disabled athletes (M+3; F=1) with acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) drew upon in experiencing posttraumatic growth (PTG). Frank’s (1995) ideal narrative types in response to illness (chaos, restitution, and quest) were central in revealing the complex dynamics through which individuals constructed body-selves as disabled athletes. Through analyzing experiences of: i) trauma and disablement; ii) rehabilitation; iii) commencing disability sport; iv) constructing disabled athletic identity; and v) embodying the ‘supercrip’ the dominant emplotments available in disability sport are illuminated as enabling and/or constraining in experiencing PTG. Although the repertoire of dominant narratives in disability sport risk reproducing narrowly defined reconstructions of self and experiences of PTG, over time, empathy, altruism and activism and more fulfilling experiences of PTG may be demonstrated. Future directions for exploring experiences of PTG amongst disabled athletes are discussed.
Keywords	Spinal cord injury; Trauma; Post-traumatic growth; Sport; Narrative
Page range	174-188
Year	2020
Book title	Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A Mechanism to Positive Change
Publisher	Routledge, Taylor and Francis
Output status	Published
Place of publication	London
ISBN	978-0-367-22380-9
Print	29 Jul 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited	12 Sep 2024
Related URL	https://www.routledge.com/Growth-Following-Adversity-in-Sport-A-Mechanism-to-Positive-Change/Wadey-Day-Howells/p/book/9780367223816#:~:text=Description-,Growth%20Following%20Adversity%20in%20Sport%3A%20A%20Mechanism%20to%20Positive%20Change,e.g.%2C%20organizational%2C%20cultural).
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