Who are Relatives? – Perceptions of Relatives During the Rehabilitation of Young Adults with a Severe Acquired Brain Injury

Purpose:
This paper aims at examining who is perceived as relatives in rehabilitation of severe brain injured young adults since engaging relatives is crucial for social participation/the social life situation of the injured
Methods:
A longitudinal qualitative study explored the perceptions and engagement of relatives throughout a rehabilitation trajectory of eight young adults with a severe acquired brain injury from three different perspectives: those of the professionals, the closest relatives and the injured. We apply a sociological theoretical framework concerning friendship . A social network analysis (SNA) methodology is used to capture, visualise and analyse the young adults’ perceptions of their social relations.
Results:
The ties engaged during the rehabilitation process are not only based on the young adults’ perceptions of their close network ties but rather is determined by professionals and parents. In some cases, this leads a reduction of the larger social network with the risk of the young adult’s social isolation.
Conclusion:
Institutions and professionals play a decisive role in maintenance of young adults’ social network also after rehabilitation. The authors therefore suggest an expansion of the term “relative” as well as considering these ties as dynamic.