The perception, understanding and experience of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain: A Q-methodology study

Ryan D. Parsons; Joanna McParland; Sarah L. Halligan; Liesbet Goubert; Abbie Jordan

doi:10.1177/13591053241237341

The perception, understanding and experience of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain: A Q-methodology study

Ryan D. Parsons, Joanna McParland, Sarah L. Halligan, Liesbet Goubert, Abbie Jordan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Much research has adopted a deficits-based approach to chronic pain, neglecting the study of flourishing. Using a Q-methodological framework, this study sought to explore how individuals experience, understand, and perceive flourishing in the context of young people living with chronic pain. Fifty-four individuals completed a Q- sorting task, indicating their level of agreement and disagreement with 52 statements. Q-analysis generated three factors that represented clear viewpoints of participants: ‘Pain is not a barrier to flourishing’, ‘Adapting to a new life’, and ‘Adopting a positive perspective’. Factors expressed the viewpoints that flexibility is key to enjoying life despite chronic pain, while resilience, management of stressors, acceptance and problem-solving may be required to flourish with chronic pain. Participants’ understanding of flourishing also focused on the appreciation and enjoyment of life and achievements. This study provides a useful contribution towards furthering our understanding of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Health Psychology
Early online date	14 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241237341
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 14 Mar 2024

Data Availability Statement

The data generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available, nor are they available on request, due to the fact that our participants were not asked to agree to their data being publicly available at the point of data collection. As such, we are unable to share this data.

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was undertaken as part of a PhD Studentship funded by the Pain Relief Foundation [JW/cmp].

Funders	Funder number
Pain Relief Foundation

Keywords

health psychology
pain
posttraumatic growth
well-being
young people

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Applied Psychology

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10.1177/13591053241237341Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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abstract = "Much research has adopted a deficits-based approach to chronic pain, neglecting the study of flourishing. Using a Q-methodological framework, this study sought to explore how individuals experience, understand, and perceive flourishing in the context of young people living with chronic pain. Fifty-four individuals completed a Q- sorting task, indicating their level of agreement and disagreement with 52 statements. Q-analysis generated three factors that represented clear viewpoints of participants: {\textquoteleft}Pain is not a barrier to flourishing{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Adapting to a new life{\textquoteright}, and {\textquoteleft}Adopting a positive perspective{\textquoteright}. Factors expressed the viewpoints that flexibility is key to enjoying life despite chronic pain, while resilience, management of stressors, acceptance and problem-solving may be required to flourish with chronic pain. Participants{\textquoteright} understanding of flourishing also focused on the appreciation and enjoyment of life and achievements. This study provides a useful contribution towards furthering our understanding of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain.",

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The perception, understanding and experience of flourishing in young people living with chronic pain: A Q-methodology study

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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