Impact of pre-injury family functioning and resources on self-reported post-concussive symptoms and functional outcomes in persons with mild TBI

• Published in: Brain injury Vol. 30; no. 13-14; p. 1672
• Main Authors: Temple, Jessica Lynn, Struchen, Margaret A, Pappadis, Monique R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 05.12.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Affective Symptoms - etiology; Brain Concussion - complications; Brain Concussion - psychology; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Disability Evaluation; Family Relations; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Post-Concussion Syndrome - etiology; Post-Concussion Syndrome - psychology; Principal Component Analysis; Psychometrics; Retrospective Studies; Self Report; Texas; Young Adult; family functioning; Mild TBI; family resources; functional status; postconcussive symptoms
• ISSN: 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1113561

This study investigates the contribution of pre-injury family functioning and resources on self-reported post-concussive symptoms and functional outcomes in persons with mild TBI (mTBI). Participants with uncomplicated or complicated mTBIs were recruited from consecutive admissions to the emergency department of a level 1 trauma centre. Patients completed baseline assessments within 2 weeks of injury and an outcomes assessment at 3 months post-injury. One hundred and sixty-six adults with mTBI were included. Baseline measures of pre-injury history, family functioning and resources were obtained. Functional status assessments and self-reported measures of health, common TBI symptoms and psychological problems were administered at 3-months post-injury. Data reduction of outcome measures using principle components analysis revealed two factors: self-reported post-concussive symptoms and current functional/participation status, explaining 60.53% of the variance. Family resources (β = -0.239, t(150) = -2.84, p = 0.005) and age (β = -0.170, t(150) = -2.19, p = 0.030), but not family functioning, were significant predictors of self-reported post-concussive symptoms at follow-up, R = 0.051, F(5, 150) = 4.09, p = 0.002. Neither family resources nor functioning predicted current functional/participation status. Fewer family resources and younger age were associated with increased self-reported post-concussive symptoms. Fewer resources may be a potential risk factor to heightened perception of post-concussive symptoms. Providing low-cost counselling or resource facilitation services may improve outcomes for those with limited resources after mTBI.