Keywords

caregivers, caregiver distress, traumatic brain injury

 

Authors

  1. Davis, Lynne C. PhD
  2. Sander, Angelle M. PhD
  3. Struchen, Margaret A. PhD
  4. Sherer, Mark PhD
  5. Nakase-Richardson, Risa PhD
  6. Malec, James F. PhD

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether caregivers' medical and psychiatric histories, coping style, and social support predict global distress and perceived burden.

 

Design: Correlational, cohort study.

 

Participants: A total of 114 caregivers of persons with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, assessed 1 year postinjury.

 

Measures: Ratings of caregivers' medical and psychiatric history; Disability Rating Scale; Ways of Coping Questionnaire; Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; Brief Symptom Inventory; and Modified Caregiver Appraisal Scale.

 

Results: Caregivers' medical and psychiatric histories predicted global distress, after accounting for education, sex, income, and relationship, as well as disability of the person with injury. Increased use of escape-avoidance as a coping strategy was related to increased distress. Perceived burden was predicted by disability in the person with injury, use of escape-avoidance, and perceived social support.

 

Conclusions: Caregivers' preinjury functioning is more predictive of global distress, whereas the functioning of the person with injury is more predictive of injury-related burden. Caregivers' medical and psychiatric histories are important considerations when targeting interventions; global stress management strategies may be as important as assisting with injury-related issues.