Adaptive Coping Strategies in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Phenomenological Study

 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most common causes of disability worlwide. Perception of coping strategies is important in these patients. This study aims to investigate the coping strategies in patients with SCI. 

 This is a hermeneutic phenomenological study using van Mann’s approach. participants werre 15 adults (4 females, 11 males) with SCI living in Ardail, Iran who were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Interviews were recoreded and then transcribed and finally analyzed by using the thematic analysis approach proposed by van Mann.

 The lived experiences related to coping strategies in patients were summarized in six main themes including acceptence of the incurability, desire for being independent, praying for divine help, patience & persuasion, time as a coping factor, and marriage. 

 Patients with SCI use their own strategies to cope with their disability. Therefore, it is necessary for clinicians and psychiatrists to strengthen their coping strategies to help them better adapt to their injury.