Restricted growth adults' agency in rehabilitation

Authors

• Susanna Paloniemi Jyväskylän yliopisto
• Leena Ristolainen Tieteellinen tutkimus Orton
• Heikki Hurri Tieteellinen tutkimus Orton

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.131456

Abstract

The study focuses on rehabilitees' agency in rehabilitation from the viewpoint of restricted growth adults' rehabilitation experiences. Adopting a subject-centred sosiocultural approach on agency, agency was investigated as a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the social manifesting itself as rehabilitees take stances, participate in, and influence one's rehabilitation. The research questions were: 1) in what kinds of situations rehabilitees’ agency is manifested, and towards what the agency is targeted? and 2) what individual and/or social aspects promote or constrain agency? The interview data of 21 rehabilitees were analyzed via thematic analysis. Rehabilitees’ agency was found to be manifested 1) as being heard and influencing on decision making, 2) as active participatory rehabilitation practices, 3) as a freedom of choice and acting differently, and as 4) life-course agency. Rehabilitee’s own active role and the support offered by experts, other adults with restricted growth, and the non-profit organizations were the main recourses for agency in rehabilitation. Fragmentation of knowledge, experts’ gatekeeper roles, and ignorance of adult life-course chances in rehabilitation constrained rehabilitees’ agency.