self-perception from the viewpoints of the informal caregivers of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury: a qualitative study

Background: difficult life experiences in adulthood, such as caregiving of an individual with traumatic spinal cord injury (tsci), constitute a challenge to the self and identity. objectives: this study aimed to explore self-perception from the viewpoints of informal caregivers of individuals with tsci. methods: twelve informal caregivers of individuals with tsci participated in this qualitative study. the researchers purposively selected the participants and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews for data collection. they recorded the interviews and transcribed them verbatim. the researchers analyzed the data according to the qualitative content analysis method. results: the findings included “the self-being” as the main category and “self-essence” and “self-possession” as higher-level subcategories and their 25 related lower-level subcategories. conclusions: the participants might perceive themselves as an eternal and granted “self-essence” or may perceive it as perishable and unstable “self-possessions.” depending on self-perception, self-confidence and self-worth were maintained under any circumstances or fluctuated according to defects or lack of self-possessions.