The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury during Adolescence on Career Plans and Outcomes

ABSTRACT.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs during the years when individuals are aiming for vocational goals and acquiring skills needed to achieve vocational success. This exploratory study aimed to describe the perceived long-term impact on career outcomes for individuals who were hospitalized with a TBI during adolescence. This study used a retrospective cohort design. A telephone questionnaire was administered 5 years postinjury to a consecutive series of 51 participants aged 15–19 years at time of injury, as well as 46 informants who knew the participants well. Participants and informants described the impact the injury had on career plans and outcomes. The nature of occupation postinjury was compared with preinjury plans, with results indicating many participants altering preinjury career plans following TBI.

KEYWORDS. :

• Career plans
• occupational outcome
• long-term consequences
• adolescent head injury