Social delaktighet hos ungdomar och vuxna med cerebral pares

The aim of this study was to describe how adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy and a communicative impairment experience and reason about the factors that affect social participation in everyday activities. A qualitative approach was chosen. Data collection was made through written interviews via the internet based on an interview guide and through access to a written diary. The collected data were analyzed by a qualitative content analysis, which resulted in the theme "The interaction of internal and external factors affect the experience of social participation in everyday activities" and the two categories "Personal Factors" and "Environmental Factors". The first category "Personal Factors" included experiences and reasoning about how a person's self-image affected relations with others and that the use of different strategies affected the opportunities for social participation. The second category, "Environmental factors" included experiences and reasoning about how the physical environment, ignorance and incomprehension of others and treatment from other people affected opportunities for social participation. The conclusions of this study was that it is important for occupational therapists and other health professionals who meet adolescents and adults with CP to be aware of these factors. Through a better understanding of these factors there are better opportunities to support the person to develop useful and functional strategies, but also to contribute to increasing participation in society and to reduce the negative impact that environmental factors have on social participation in everyday activities.Validerat; 20150524 (global_studentproject_submitter