A new study has found that returning to leisure activities (activities people do for pleasure and enjoyment) varies after traumatic brain injury (TBI), with some TBI survivors returning successfully, some failing to return successfully and others ceasing to return altogether.
The researchers interviewed 12 TBI survivors to find out about their leisure participation after injury. They found that pre-injury, the survivors had engaged in a range of leisure activities including physical, outdoor, creative and social activities. Post-injury, there were a range of brain injury-related hindrances affecting leisure participation, including physical, cognitive and communication challenges (such as fatigue, reduced balance and poor communication), the demands on ongoing rehabilitation, relationship breakdowns and changes to responsibilities/priorities.
Re-engagement in leisure activities was associated with greater well-being. Successful re-engagement was underpinned by strong social support, independent functioning including being able to return to driving, compensatory strategies, routines and internal motivation.
The authors conclude by highlighting the importance of designing rehabilitation programs that actively support restoration to leisure participation after TBI, with interventions being personalised, goal-oriented and regularly reviewed, as well as directly addressing barriers to leisure participation.
For more information on the research, visit https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2025.2561850#d1e1039.
Reference: Fountas, C., Ponsford, J., & Downing, M. (2025). Participation in leisure activity after traumatic brain injury: A qualitative exploration. Disability and Rehabilitation, 48(9). https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2561850