Self-perception and behavioural outcomes of early acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT

Acquired brain injury (ABI) occurs commonly in young children. Despite this, the psychosocial implications of ABI in young children are not established, with little understood about the impacts on self-perception and self-esteem. In this study we investigated self-perception, self-esteem and behaviour of children with early ABI. Children with an ABI (n = 47) before six years were compared to 17 typically developing controls (TDCs) matched on demographics. Children were aged 6–12 years and completed the Harter Self-Perception Profile. One parent completed the Child Behavior Checklist. No differences for self-perception and self-esteem were found between the groups. Parents of children with an early ABI reported more internalizing and externalizing behaviours. Children with more externalizing behaviour and social skill problems had more negative self-perceptions. Interaction effects were seen between socioeconomic status (SES) and child self-perception and behaviour. Specifically, children from families of higher SES had a more positive perception of their appearance and children from lower SES backgrounds had more externalizing behaviours and social problems. The study suggests that the relationship between ABI and self-perception and self-esteem is complicated and that children with behavioural problems have lowered feelings of competence. SES has an important role in self-perception and behavioural outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Acquired brain injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Child
• Self-esteem
• Behaviour

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, LMC, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Canberra, Australia, (grant number 1008867); and support from the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Louise M Crowe was supported by a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship and a Myer Foundation Fellowship; Vicki Anderson was supported by NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship.