Who are relatives? Young adults, relatives and professionals' perceptions of relatives during the rehabilitation of young adults with a severe acquired brain injury

Purpose This paper explores the perception of relatives during the rehabilitation of young adults with severe acquired brain injury (SABI). Methods This longitudinal qualitative study followed eight young adults with a SABI from hospital discharge to a year and a half after discharge. The design encompassed professional records, interviews, and surveys, including a name generator list completed by the young adults and focus group interviews with both their families and professionals. We apply a sociological theoretical framework concerning friendship, and we employ social network analysis (SNA) methodology to capture, visualise, and analyse the young adults' significant social relations. Results Social relations engaged as relatives during rehabilitation are to a large extent determined by the perceptions of professionals and the parents of the young adult. These perceptions contain a limited number of social relations, with priority given to biological and juridical ties. This might reflect the reduced social support available for the young adult, who initially had a much larger social network. Conclusion The authors suggest a professional rethinking of who relatives are as well as considering these social ties as dynamic.

Automated summary

This paper explores the perception of relatives during the rehabilitation of young adults with severe acquired brain injury (SABI). The study found that social relations engaged as relatives during rehabilitation are largely determined by the perceptions of professionals and parents, with priority given to biological and juridical ties.