The Road to Family Resiliency: A Case Report of a Family's Experiences Following Adolescent Stroke

Purpose: This study generated an understanding of familial resiliency following an adolescent's stroke and what resiliency-related outcomes were important to this family. Design and Methods: A qualitative case study design was used to collect data during an in-person interview. The interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Participants' narratives revealed that reengaging and establishing new activities, reconstructing identities, and changing perceptions regarding health and life itself were important resiliency-related outcomes. Conclusions: The findings from this case study highlight innovative strategies that can be used to facilitate resiliency during strenuous times in a family's life, such as following an adolescent's stroke. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians and service providers have the opportunity to help facilitate resiliency by identifying which protective factors and positive outcomes are most important to a family following an adolescent's stroke, allowing clinicians to assist in achieving these outcomes. This research illustrates ways for families to convert resources into personally meaningful resiliency-related outcomes. Further research is needed to study familial resiliency as a part of an intervention to promote occupational engagement.