Effects of Family and Caregiver Psychosocial Functioning on Outcomes in Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the predictive value of caregiver/family status to well-being of persons with brain injury and to examine whether perceived social support to caregivers moderates their well-being. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred nine pairs of adults, a caregiver, and an individual with TBI. MAIN MEASURES: Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Satisfaction With Life Scale; Disability Rating Scale; Social Provision Scale, Family Assessment Device, and Disability Rating Scale. RESULTS: Canonical correlation indicated the presence of a relationship between well-being in TBI and caregiver participants. Two canonical variates accounted for 47.5% variance. Poor psychological well-being among persons with TBI was associated with poor caregiver perceived social support and poor familial behavioral control. Individuals with high disability also had caregivers with poorer psychological well-being. In post hoc multiple regressions, caregiver/family psychosocial characteristics added unique prediction of outcome for individuals with TBI. Hierarchical multiple regressions provided evidence that social support of caregivers moderates outcome status for individuals with TBI. CONCLUSIONS: Future research efforts should focus on understanding of the specific mechanisms of reciprocal effects, to help design future therapy.