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Purpose in Life of Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury

Author

Listed:
  • Agata Goraczko

    (Clinic of Neurorehabilitation, 54-519 Wroclaw, Poland
    Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Grzegorz Zurek

    (Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Maciej Lachowicz

    (Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Alina Zurek

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

Background : Searching for the meaning of human existence is man’s fundamental orientation. People are free to find meaning in their lives, and while they are not always free to choose the conditions of life, they are free to choose their attitude toward the conditions in which they find themselves. When people experience an unchangeable situation, the most important thing is the attitude they take toward it. This study aimed to identify the sense of meaning in life among elite athletes after a spinal cord injury (SCI) and to analyze the different aspects contributing to this domain. Methods : The study involved five athletes with at least national-level achievements in sports prior to a SCI. The study consisted of an interview using a communicator and filling out two online questionnaires—a personal questionnaire and the Purpose in Life Scale. Results : Analyzing the quantitative results, four participants achieved results indicating a high sense of meaning in life, while one participant achieved a significantly lower result. Conclusions : What affects one’s purpose in life is not so much the objective physical limitation but how much physicality one perceives to have lost as a result of the injury. Elite athletes stay involved in the sporting environment, which prevents the loss of purpose and maintains a sense of meaning at a high level. Both telling the story of your own illness and listening to the stories of others help the process of self-healing.

Suggested Citation

  • Agata Goraczko & Grzegorz Zurek & Maciej Lachowicz & Alina Zurek, 2021. "Purpose in Life of Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5563-:d:560359
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smith, Brett & Sparkes, Andrew C., 2005. "Men, sport, spinal cord injury, and narratives of hope," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 1095-1105, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Agata Goraczko & Alina Zurek & Maciej Lachowicz & Katarzyna Kujawa & Grzegorz Zurek, 2021. "Is Self-Efficacy Related to the Quality of Life in Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.
    2. Agata Goraczko & Alina Zurek & Maciej Lachowicz & Katarzyna Kujawa & Grzegorz Zurek, 2022. "The Relationship between Cognitive Performance and Quality of Life in Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.

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