WHEN I DO, I BECOME SOMEONE – YOUNG ADULTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY's EXPERIENCES OF OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN DAILY LIFE

Background: Studies have shown that persons with cerebral palsy (CP), even if they have good hand function and move independently, have a lower level of independence and participation in daily life than persons without... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Studies have shown that persons with cerebral palsy (CP), even if they have good hand function and move independently, have a lower level of independence and participation in daily life than persons without disabilities in the same age. The aim of the study was to investigate how young adults with CP perceive their ability of occupational performance and their participation in everyday life.
Method:
Qualitative interview study with 10 persons (18-30 years old) with CP (MACS I-III), in Western Sweden.
Results:
The young adults with CP perceived their occupational performance as very important. It is crucial for them to perform activities in the same way as others. To perform activities was described as very demanding, especially cognitively, but with knowledge, compensation, adaptation, support and self-motivation it became possible. Occupational performance was experienced to create feelings of affiliation or exclusion, depending on people’s conduct and the possibility to participate in activity situations. The persons considered that occupational performance can affect self-esteem, self-image and self-confidence, and it is viewed to help them grow as persons. Still it has high price in form of physical deterioration, pain, stress, mental and physical fatigue.
Conclusion:
Young adults with CP consider that despite the fact that life is so demanding, it is important to perform activities themselves, because "When I do I become someone”.
Application to Practice:
Future challenges will be to provide conditions for interventions based on the understanding that persons with CP need balance in their daily life without giving up "doing".