Returning to productive activities: Perspectives of individuals with long-standing acquired brain injuries

The primary objective of this study was to understand how intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence productive involvement over time.

Given this relatively unexplored area of study, an interpretive research paradigm was incorporated using the grounded theory methodology.

Six participants were recruited based on inclusion criteria. They had been living with a brain injury for an average of 14 years. The primary method of data collection was semi-structured interviews, which was supplemented by programme reports to enhance methodological triangulation.

The results revealed that factors influencing involvement in productive activities over time were conceptually linked to learning about one's capacity. These factors involved: an opportunity to try, support and feedback from others, experimenting, and participants' appraisals of themselves.

Recommendations for clinical practice include incorporating the postulates of the social cognitive theory in rehabilitation and moving from a deficits approach towards a strengths model of practice.