The relationship between post-traumatic growth and return to work following mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic growth (PTG) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and to examine whether PTG is associated with vocational status.

Materials and methods: Archival data from a random sample of 74 individuals who sustained mTBI (mean age: 43.23; male, 55%) were obtained from a larger sample of litigating patients who were referred for a neuropsychological examination. Factors associated with return to work were ascertained using a multiple regression analysis. The demographic variables age, sex, and education were added to the first block, whilst relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life, as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), were added in the second block.

Results: Approximately 31% of the sample exhibited moderate levels of PTG, as defined by endorsing a 3 or more on each item of the PTGI, with the most common aspects of PTG being appreciation of life, relating to others, and personal strength. The multiple regression analysis revealed that new possibilities and personal strength were independently associated with return to work.

Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that there is evidence for the development of PTG among individuals with mTBI. These findings have important implications for rehabilitation planning, individual and family adjustment, and the prediction of long-term outcome as it pertains to return to work in particular.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Return to work is an integral component of rehabilitation following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and should not be overlooked.

• Results of this study indicate that post-traumatic growth (PTG) can be used to inform intervention approaches that seek to promote growth and resiliency post-injury.

• Informing patients about the prospects of a positive post-injury recovery trajectory could help manage the individual’s expectations of recovery.

Keywords:

• Traumatic brain injury
• occupational functioning
• return to work
• post-traumatic growth
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sarah Francis and Thomas Palantzas for their assistance with psychometric testing. The authors report no financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.