“You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury

Griffioen, Janna; Grewal, Jasleen; Mamman, Rinni; Schmidt, Julia; Witten, Jade

doi:10.3390/disabilities5030068

Open AccessArticle

“You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury

by

Janna Griffioen

^1,2,*,

Jasleen Grewal

^1,2,

Rinni Mamman

^1,2,

Julia Schmidt

^2,3,*

and

Jade Witten

^2,3

¹

Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada

²

Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2G9, Canada

³

Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Disabilities 2025, 5(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5030068

Submission received: 27 March 2025 / Revised: 17 July 2025 / Accepted: 21 July 2025 / Published: 29 July 2025

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Abstract

Background: Achieving meaningful community integration (engagement in meaningful activity, independent living, and social connectedness) after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires addressing persistent barriers limiting its fulfillment. This qualitative study explored the perceptions and experiences of community integration for individuals living with TBI in the community. Methods: Using semi-structured interviews, four focus groups of individuals with TBI were conducted. Data were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. Findings: There were 13 participants between the ages of 25 and 64, who had acquired their injury at least three years earlier. Community integration was illustrated through three themes: (1) ‘Am I left on my own?’ explored the support systems after TBI, (2) ‘One size fits all’ described the response of society to TBI, and (3) ‘Adapting to a new normal’ highlighted responses to a changed reality. Conclusions: Individuals with TBI reported decreased community integration in multiple facets of life. Understanding the experiences of community integration after TBI can create room for future rehabilitation interventions that consider new abilities and adaptation to barriers.

Keywords: disability; participation; brain injury; focus groups; qualitative; community integration

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MDPI and ACS Style

Griffioen, J.; Grewal, J.; Mamman, R.; Schmidt, J.; Witten, J. “You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury. Disabilities 2025, 5, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5030068

AMA Style

Griffioen J, Grewal J, Mamman R, Schmidt J, Witten J. “You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury. Disabilities. 2025; 5(3):68. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5030068

Chicago/Turabian Style

Griffioen, Janna, Jasleen Grewal, Rinni Mamman, Julia Schmidt, and Jade Witten. 2025. "“You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury" Disabilities 5, no. 3: 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5030068

APA Style

Griffioen, J., Grewal, J., Mamman, R., Schmidt, J., & Witten, J. (2025). “You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury. Disabilities, 5(3), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5030068

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“You’re Left on Your Own”: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Community Integration After Traumatic Brain Injury

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