Family Adaptation After Acquired Brain Injury in a Child: How Can This Be Maximised?

This thesis investigated the impact of paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) on the family and sought to understand how best to support families. Findings suggested that families face significant challenges impacting their wellbeing, but adaptive coping may result in better outcomes. The research produced a framework to understand how the sibling relationship may develop after ABI, which included the perspectives of people with ABI, and found that camp programmes engendered hope and understanding through peer connections. The findings provided insight into the challenges faced by families after ABI and how community programmes focusing on family strengths supported better outcomes.