Qualitative longitudinal analysis of stigma trajectories in stories of undergoing bariatric surgery and living with bariatric bodies. (Methods)

Qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) is an evolving methodology and has become increasingly popular to understand lived experience of health and illness. The method is described as particularly useful to provide a more nuanced insight in social phenomena, as in this case the experience of stigma and change over time. This paper discusses the use of QLR to analysing stigma trajectories in stories of being obese, undergoing bariatric surgery and living with bariatric bodies. The discussion will draw upon my empirical material based on four in-depth follow up interviews with seven persons 8 years after bariatric surgery. First I will give a brief overview of QLR as well as previous studies on stigma trajectories. Then I will share my reflections on researcher reflexivity and on coping with time and texture in QLR based on my own study of stigma trajectories.