Effects of Family and Caregiver

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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.

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