Predictors of psychological health in caregivers of patients with closed head injury

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the contribution of coping strategies subjective burden and social support to psychological health in caregivers The sample included 69 primary caregivers of patients with severe closed head injuries There were three groups of caregivers acute 0-6 months post injury intermediate 6 months-1.5 years and long term > 1. 5 years All had participated in rehabilitation Caregivers completed an interview and series of questionnaires including the Ways of Coping Questionnaire Social Support Questionnaire Subjective Burden Measure and General Health Questionnaire The Disability Rating Scale was completed by staff to assess patients level of functioning at the time of caregivers assessment ANOVA revealed no between group differ ences in coping style or social support Multiple regression revealed that greater use of emotion focused coping was associated with greater emotional distress Coping style contributed to a greater proportion of the variance in caregivers psychological health than did patients level of functioning Increased satisfaction with social support was associated with less emotional distress The full model including group caregiver gender emotion focused coping social support patient level of recovery burden and the burden coping interaction accounted for over half of the variance in psychological health Results support a multidimensional model for explaining caregivers adjustment