scholarly journals ‘Suddenly the first fifty years of my life made sense’: Experiences of older people with autism

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife Hickey ◽  
Jason Crabtree ◽  
Joshua Stott
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Life Review ◽  
The Self ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Comparison Results

Research on the experience of growing older with autism is very limited. In this study, 13 people with autism aged over 50 years participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of diagnosis, social support and getting older. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Three overarching themes were generated: difference, life review and longing for connection. Prior to diagnosis, individuals had awareness of their difficulties, attributed these to intrinsic difference and engaged in a deliberate process of reducing the visibility of this difference. Diagnosis prompted a process of life review and externalisation, whereby past negative experiences were reattributed to autism as opposed to the self. Loneliness, isolation and yearning for interpersonal connection were ubiquitous and longstanding. Autism support and social groups were highly valued, offering opportunities for belonging, acceptance and social comparison. Results highlight the similarity to younger age groups in terms of lived experience and need for greater support, particularly with respect to reducing isolation and improving access to diagnosis.

scholarly journals Mothers’ perspectives on the lived experience of children with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann Kiernan ◽  
Duncan Mitchell ◽  
Jois Stansfield ◽  
Carol Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Central Tenet ◽  
Experience Of Inclusion ◽  
Challenging Behaviours ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Children With Intellectual Disability

Children with intellectual disability and behavioural needs (challenging behaviour) are vulnerable to exclusion from services and communities. The situation is exacerbated by difficulties in accessing appropriate support and services to effectively meet the needs of children and carers. Family perspectives on the ‘lived experience’ of children can provide insight into how behavioural needs can affect their ability to access everyday experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of children with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours. Phenomenological thematic analysis provided four key themes: finding our way; square services, round needs; behaviour touches everything and belonging. Experience of inclusion and exclusion was a central tenet of the lived experience. Recommendations call for timely proactive and bespoke interventions to identify and support children at risk of exclusion from communities. Early intervention and effective local provision will avoid increased burdens placed on families and services, in supporting children whose needs are currently unmet within child-centred provision.

scholarly journals Relationships at school: social representations of supervisors and teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (33) ◽  
pp. e14223
Author(s):  
Luysienne Silva de Oliveira ◽  
Maria Núbia Barbosa Bonfim
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Professional Knowledge ◽  
The Self ◽  
Lexical Content ◽  
The Stranger ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study discusses the relations of belonging at school between supervisors and teachers, aiming to analyze in which relational group these authors belong more strongly. The Theory of Social Representations guided the research, in view of its construction processes, anchoring and objectification, to be closely linked to belonging, making the strange, familiar. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured and in-depth interviews distributed by: Classification by Elements of Meaning, Lexical Content Analysis and Thematic Analysis. The results point out, among other factors, that the construction of representations by social groups makes the stranger known to the subjects, pointing to belonging to the group of people or to the place, in addition, belonging is in the self and the other's recognition as part of the same group, not only based on affection, but on partnership, sharing and exchange of professional knowledge.

“We’re giving them the tools.” A qualitative study of nursing students working with Recovery College trainers to support student wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Oates ◽  
Rasiha Hassan ◽  
Sam Coster
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Nursing Faculty ◽  
Student Nurses ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peer Facilitators

Purpose This paper aims to present a thematic analysis of student nurses’ experiences of an innovative collaboration between a mental health Recovery College and a nursing faculty, where Recovery College trainers’ expertise in co-production and peer facilitation were foregrounded. The aim of this study is to understand how nursing students experienced being peer facilitators of well-being workshops for fellow students following training with Recovery College trainers. Design/methodology/approach Thematic analysis of qualitative data from eight semi-structured interviews and a focus group with 15 participants. Findings The overarching theme that emerged was “The process of being a student Peer Facilitator”. Six themes emerged from the data: “What we brought”; “Conceptualisation”; “Adaptation”; “we’re giving them the tools”; “What we gained”; and “Development”. Practical implications Mental health nurse educators could forge collaborative relationships with Recovery College colleagues with a broader remit than service users’ “lived experience” of mental distress. Student nurses should be given opportunities to be peer facilitators and draw on their lived experience as student nurses as means of addressing their and their peers’ mental health. Originality/value Original findings were that the student experience of being a peer facilitator was different to their other experiences in education and clinical practice. They drew on their lived experience throughout and found that they learned skills to address their well-being through supporting other students to improve theirs.

Group Disparities in Educational Outcomes: An Age Cohort Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-352
Author(s):  
Vachaspati Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
And Gender

This article attempts to evaluate differential progress in educational attainment across social groups segregating the attainments at the level of age cohorts. It argues that mapping of educational attainment across age cohorts offers a robust understanding of educational progress, as it sheds light on the likelihood of younger age-groups getting educated in comparison with the older ones. This article examines attainments across five levels of education among the population subgroups which are categorised based on region (rural–urban), social background (SC/ST and Others), and gender (male–female) among others. The analysis reveals that group disparities tend to be lower among the younger age groups but increase along with rising levels of educational attainment. Gender disparity nearly disappears in the youngest age cohort among the better off groups. This exercise at the level of age cohorts offers an optimism that differentials seem to narrow down in recent times, which is not as stark at the aggregate subgroup levels.

Being a mother with multiple sclerosis: Negotiating cultural ideals of mother and child

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe Parton ◽  
Jane M Ussher ◽  
Simone Natoli ◽  
Janette Perz
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
The Self ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Cultural Ideals ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Feminist Poststructuralist

Multiple sclerosis can impact affected women’s experiences of motherhood through physical and cognitive impairment. This study examined how women construct and experience motherhood while living with multiple sclerosis. Twenty mothers diagnosed with multiple sclerosis took part in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using theoretical thematic analysis, drawing on feminist poststructuralist theory to organise and interpret themes. Two main themes were identified: “Performing motherhood in the context of MS” and “Bringing up a ‘good’ child”. “Performing motherhood in the context of MS” comprises the subthemes, “The self-sacrificing mother: Negating women’s needs”, “The unreliable mother: Adjusting day-to-day mothering practices”, and “Resisting discourses of idealised motherhood”. “Bringing up a ‘good’ child”, comprises the subthemes, “The damaging mother: Fear of harming the child” and “The good mother: Caring and building resilience in the child”. Women positioned themselves as failing to be good mothers, because of limitations to their mothering, and fear of damaging children. Focusing on building children’s emotional resilience functioned to restore constructions of “good” mothering. Acknowledging how Western cultural ideals influence women’s experience of mothering when living with chronic illness is important. Health professionals can provide support by addressing women’s feelings of failure as mothers and supporting communication with children.

Exploring flexible home arrangements – an interview study of workers who live in vans

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 747-761
Author(s):  
Angus J. Duff ◽  
Scott B. Rankin
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Life Domains ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
First Time ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of workers who live in vans to explore how work and non-work interact when one's living environment is mobile.Design/methodology/approachIn this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 18 participants. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts, coded while listening to each interview recording, provided a rich account of the interaction of work and non-work life domains.FindingsSeveral themes were identified, including seeing the van as a home, hidden or disclosed identity stemming from living in a van, financial freedom, career freedom and work/non-work synchronization. Overall, findings suggest that flexible home arrangements, the relocation of one's home to adapt to work, aligned work and non-work domains to positively impact their overall work and non-work satisfaction, providing career freedom and expanded career opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThe understanding of workers who live in vans broadens one’s understanding of mobile work and the work/non-work interface, providing insight into the dual alignment of work and home to accommodate each other, which the authors term work/non-work synchronization.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to consider van living from a work and career perspective and for the first time conceptualizes the notion of flexible home arrangements.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Inquiry into Collecting Recyclable Cans and Bottles as a Livelihood Activity at Football Tailgates in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5659
Author(s):  
Noleen R. Chikowore ◽  
John M. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physical Strength ◽  
Beverage Containers ◽  
Purposeful Sampling ◽  
The U.S

The deposit refund program for the return of beverage containers in some U.S. states has led to recycling as a means of earning income. Michigan’s 10-cent aluminum can and bottle refund, which is the highest in the U.S., makes recycling for income particularly attractive. This study explores the factors that enable or constrain the livelihood activity of people who collect cans and bottles at football tailgating parties, focusing on the motivation behind choices and the factors that enhance or constrain their activities. Maximum variation (heterogeneity) sampling, a purposeful sampling method, was used to recruit participants from different races, genders, and age groups. Data were collected through direct observation and semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the income from this livelihood activity was an important survival strategy for those who engage in it. Other significant sources of motivation include contributing to environmental stewardship and recognition for doing so. Differences in capital assets such as social networks, physical strength, skills, and access to equipment led to differences in people’s ability to earn income from collecting cans and bottles. Some challenges restricted their activities, including accessing shopping carts and public buses to transport the cans and limitations imposed on the number of cans that canners can redeem at the redemption centers.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Possibility of Disseminating the “Game-Movement-Development” Approach in Early Childhood Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-188
Author(s):  
Gregorc Jera ◽  
Maja Meško
Keyword(s):  
Educational Games ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Immediate Feedback ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
School Period

Abstract Introduction. The “game-movement-development” (GMD) approach was conceived in the light of contemporary scientific knowledge in the field of kinesiology, neuro-education, pedagogy, and psychology related to the pre-school period. The approach has been implemented for over 15 years in a selected kindergarten. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of applying the new GMD approach in different kindergartens depending on the children’s age and according to selected quality indicators. Material and methods. We employed an experimental pedagogical exploratory method on a sample of 30 preschool teacher assistants who were employed in 30 kindergartens located in Slovenia. The sample also included a group of 512 children, who were divided into two subgroups: 318 (62%) of them were from an older age group (3-6 years old) and 194 (38%) of them were from a younger age group (1-3 years old). All the children were involved in a project with the same theme. The educators implemented it according to the principles of the approach presented in the article. Three types of variables were used to determine the effectiveness, advantages, and weaknesses of the approach. Results. A detailed analysis of the projects, semi-structured interviews, and surveys that were completed showed that both age groups adapted quickly to the new approach, especially the younger group of children. Different methods (e.g. that of using educational games), which involve the educator’s participation in the game as a team-mate, made it possible for all of the children to be rapidly integrated into the game and to choose how to move within its rules. However, the educators surveyed believed that they lacked knowledge concerning child development and that they needed more time to understand the new approach, more systematic assistance, and immediate feedback. Conclusions. The research showed that the approach was effective in its essence for all age groups of children. The disadvantages of the approach are primarily related to the need to amend teachers’ subjective theories of learning, which requires a longer time.

scholarly journals Initial experiences of family caregivers of survivors of a traumatic brain injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandi Broodryk ◽  
Chrisma Pretorius
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Need For Support

Background: There seems to be a paucity of research on the initial subjective experiences of family caregivers of survivors of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Objective: To explore the challenges that family caregivers face during the initial stages of recovery of a relative who has sustained a TBI. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to explore the findings from semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 12 female family caregivers of relatives who had sustained a TBI. Results: Family caregivers recalled their initial experiences of the shock at hearing the news about their relative’s TBI, negative experiences in hospital and frustrating interactions with healthcare professionals as particularly challenging. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasise caregivers’ need for support, information and psycho-education, especially from healthcare professionals, from the very beginning stages of recovery from a TBI. Practical and physical needs with regard to admission to and care in the hospital were also highlighted. This research will hopefully contribute to creating awareness amongst healthcare professionals on how they can contribute to improvement of the services provided by the healthcare system based on the experiences of the caregivers who participated in this study.

scholarly journals Training at the Gym, Training for Life: Creating Better Versions of the Self Through Exercise

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ceren Doğan
Keyword(s):  
Small Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Physical Training ◽  
The Self ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Physical Sense ◽  
Political Discourses ◽  
Exercise Regime ◽  
Psychological Sense

The present study draws on Scott’s (2011) notion of the Re-Inventive Institution and explores how gym members make sense and give meaning to their exercise regime. Overall, it is argued that for many participants gym exercise is more than physical training; it is also training for life. Based on a thematic analysis of 32 semi-structured interviews it is argued that gym workout is a means to create better versions of the self on mainly three levels. First, gym participants perceive themselves to be efficient and productive in general. Second, gym training is believed to increase the control they have over their lives. Third, gym members associate their gym workout with amplified emotional resilience, believing that fitness workout makes them not only fitter in a physical sense but also fitter and better equipped in a psychological sense. Surprisingly, a small group of regular gym users displayed more critical sentiments and distanced themselves from the images and values the gym stands for. The results of this study can be linked to broader political discourses on health and fitness that make use of corporate managerial vocabularies and are based on ideals of rationalization and efficiency.

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