Psychological Flourishing Experiences Among Burn Patients: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Informed by the PERMA Framework

Background/Objectives: Burns can impair physical functioning and exert long-term effects on mental health and quality of life. The PERMA framework conceptualizes psychological flourishing across positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment, providing a useful lens for understanding positive psychological experiences during burn recovery. This study aimed to explore psychological flourishing experiences and the factors shaping these experiences among patients with burns from the perspective of the PERMA framework and to inform positive psychological support strategies. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative design was employed. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Twenty-two hospitalized patients with burns were recruited from the burn department of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China, between December 2025 and March 2026. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide informed by the PERMA framework. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Results: Five themes and 14 subthemes were identified: (1) reconstruction of positive emotions, including restoration of hope, development of positive cognition, and acceptance of reality; (2) active engagement, including participation in rehabilitation, reconstruction of daily functioning, and social participation; (3) multilevel support systems, including family, healthcare team, other-person, and social security support; (4) reconstruction of meaning in life, including transformation of life attitudes and family responsibility-driven motivation; and (5) new experiences of accomplishment, including a sense of achievement through progress and expectations for future life. Conclusions: Psychological flourishing among patients with burns involves multidimensional psychological and social experiences that can be interpreted through the PERMA framework. Nursing care may benefit from greater attention to patients’ positive psychological resources, as well as greater consideration of family, healthcare, and social support when addressing psychological adaptation and engagement in rehabilitation.