Abstract
Past research demonstrates that there are varied responses to the narratives, or stories, that individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) express. Listeners’ responses to these stories are important as they can have an effect on those who choose to share their stories. Responses are also of interest because individuals with SCI list peers as one of their preferred sources for information about leisure time physical activity. The objective of this study was to explore how peer athlete mentors respond to vignettes based on the stories of individuals with SCI who express a hesitance or resistance to adapted sport. Thirteen peer athlete mentors with SCI from sport and disability organizations participated in hour-long interviews in which four vignettes were discussed. Peer athlete mentor responses to the vignettes were analyzed using a dual narrative analysis. Peer athlete mentors responded to the least hesitant vignettes by drawing on mentee narratives rather than privileging their own view of sport and SCI. As such, peer athlete mentors provided individualized sport recommendations rather than a generic list of options for individuals. For the most resistant vignette, peer athlete mentors expressed one of two responses: one that challenged the mentees’ disability narrative and one that allowed mentees to express their own story of disability. Given the difficulty peer athlete mentors had in forming a connection with the individual who expressed a heavily resistant narrative, training for peer athlete mentors should address these possible narratives along with practice in how to respond to individuals with different disability narratives.Acknowledgments: This research was supported by a Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship (SSHRC).