I AM FAMILY: Understanding the adapted sport experiences of family members of military personnel with physical and psychological illnesses and injuries through the lens of the Invictus Games

Amber Duong; Lauren Roberts; Heidi Cramm; M Blair Evans; Emily Mayhew; Amy E Latimer-Cheung; Alice Aiken; Celina H Shirazipour

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102457

I AM FAMILY: Understanding the adapted sport experiences of family members of military personnel with physical and psychological illnesses and injuries through the lens of the Invictus Games

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Sep:68:102457. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102457. Epub 2023 May 4.

Authors

Amber Duong¹, Lauren Roberts², Heidi Cramm², M Blair Evans³, Emily Mayhew⁴, Amy E Latimer-Cheung⁵, Alice Aiken⁶, Celina H Shirazipour⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA; School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA.
² School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Canada.
⁴ Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
⁵ School of Kinesiology & Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
⁶ School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. Electronic address: celina.shirazipour@cshs.org.

PMID: 37665901
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102457

Abstract

Family are influential actors in adapted sport participation. However, little is known about their experiences with adapted sport. The current study sought to explore the experiences of families in adapted sport through the context of the Invictus Games, an international adapted sport competition for military personnel with physical and psychological illnesses and injuries that is unique in its inclusion of family programming. Family members (n = 21; partners, parents, siblings, and children) of Invictus Games Toronto 2017 competitors participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: recognition of family experiences during service and after onset of disability; creating a sense of belonging; and improving family knowledge and perceptions. This study provides insight regarding how adapted sport events can support the well-being of both individuals with illnesses and injuries and their families.

Keywords: Disability; Families; Mental health; Military medicine; Rehabilitation; Sports.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Child
Family
Humans
Lens, Crystalline*
Lenses*
Military Personnel*
Parents
Unionidae*