Article

The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of how men living with women
with spinal cord injury (SCI) experienced and acted when they were giving and
taking social support to and from their wives and other persons in their social
network. Another aim was to give some possible explanations of the complex
process of change that they went through. Data were collected through in-depth
interviews with four men and field notes. To describe the men's subjective
experiences and the process of change, a narrative approach inspired by
Polkinghorne was used. The analyses resulted in one story that included the four
men's experiences and action. The story showed that when the men went through a
process of change, they used and needed both emotional and practical support to
handle their new life situation. Furthermore, the men's experiences and action
against social support changed over time. This indicated that, through narratives
from spouses, professionals within rehabilitation could understand the process of
change they went through after their partner's sudden injury, and support them to
find strategies to handle their changed life situation. To give some possible
explanations for the men's experiences and action during the process of change,
the findings are discussed in relation to theories concerning adaptation and
coping.

Langue : ANGLAIS