Athletes with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Phenomenological Exploration of Family Members’ Experiences

Authors

Matthew J. Smith, University of WinchesterFollow
Georgia Young, University of WinchesterFollow
John Batten, University of WinchesterFollow
Keith D. Parry, Bournemouth UniversityFollow
Rosie Collins, Oxford Brookes UniversityFollow
Eric Anderson, University of WinchesterFollow
Adam J. White, Oxford Brookes UniversityFollow

Abstract

This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with 15 family members (mainly partners and children) of deceased athletes who experienced deterioration in their neurological health towards the end of their life. The purpose of this study was to examine the stressors these family members experienced with the ailed players, their emotional responses to their family member’s condition, as well as the coping strategies they used. Vertical and horizontal thematic analyses were conducted on the data, which revealed five distinct temporal stages, a range of emotional responses, as well as accompanying stressors and coping strategies at each temporal stage. The findings are presented as an ethnodrama, capturing the lived experiences of participants. This ethnodrama aims to resonate with those caring for family members who are experiencing deteriorating neurological health, while also raising awareness of the various emotional responses of the individuals in these situations, as well as inviting dialogue and reflection about these issues.

Keywords

neurological health, stressors, phenomenology, ethnodrama, temporal analysis

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Matt Smith is a senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Winchester. Please direct correspondence to matt.smith@winchester.ac.uk.

Georgia Young is a postgraduate student at the University of Winchester. Please direct correspondence to G.Young.17@unimail.winchester.ac.uk.

Dr. John Batten is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Winchester. Please direct correspondence to john.batten@winchester.ac.uk.

Dr. Keith Parry is Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Sport and Event Management at Bournemouth University and an Adjunct Fellow of Western Sydney University. Please direct correspondence to kdparry@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Rosie Collins is a lecturer in Sport Psychology and Coaching in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Oxford Brookes University. Please direct correspondence to collins@brookes.ac.uk.

Professor Eric Anderson is a professor of Professor of Sport, Masculinities and Sexualities in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Winchester. Please direct correspondence to Eric.Anderson@Winchester.ac.uk.

Dr. Adam White is a lecturer in Sport & Coaching Sciences in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Oxford Brookes University. Please direct correspondence to adamwhite@brookes.ac.uk.

Publication Date

11-15-2021

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4899

Recommended APA Citation

Smith, M. J., Young, G., Batten, J., Parry, K. D., Collins, R., Anderson, E., & White, A. J. (2021). Athletes with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Phenomenological Exploration of Family Members’ Experiences. The Qualitative Report, 26(11), 3492-3518. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4899

ORCID ID

0000-0002-2554-6099