2014 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 855-867
The purpose of this study was to identify the contribution of other individuals to “socialization into wheelchair basketball” of a man with acquired disability, focusing on the specific meaning of “others” in this context. The author examined the contents of recorded interviews with the subject, who had enjoyed basketball before he developed osteosarcoma. Therefore, this was an example of “resocialization into sport.” This case illustrated the types of other individuals who play a valuable role in helping patients with serious illnesses recover their health and return to participation in sports activities. In this context, the present case can be said to be valuable for other studies.
The other individuals who contributed to “socialization into wheelchair basketball” of the study subject were as follows:
First, until the subject recovered from osteosarcoma, they were the others constructing his “intimate sphere.” That is, they were “irreplaceable others” who gave him a drive to conquer his severe difficulties, “encouraging others” who gave him courage and motivation and “healing others” who provided emotional support. Until the subject was able to apply himself to wheelchair basketball activities, the other individuals were “recruiting others” and “leading others” who attracted the subject to the sport. In addition, they were “associates” in a wheelchair basketball club who supported the subject's activity and also helped him reconstruct his “intimate sphere” of contacts. These “irreplaceable others” and “associates” were similar to those found in a previous study. Although that study had also noted the importance of “leading others,” those noted in the present study had different meaning. The findings of this study should be of help to persons with various degrees of disability to overcome their difficulties.
