Family adaptation when one member has a head injury.

The Family Adaptation to Medical Stressors (FAMS) model was used to assist in understanding the family's adaptation when a dependent child suffers a head injury. Twenty-six families took part in the study. Fourteen families had a member with a severe head injury; twelve had a member with a mild head injury. Significant correlations were found between the presence of rules in the family which permit emotional expression and depression (r = -.52, p less than .05), assistance the parents felt was available and trust (r = .47, p less than .05), the actual number of people available for assistance outside the nuclear family and illness anxiety (r = -.40, p less than .05), age of the patient and trust (r +/- .55, p less than .05), depression and increased expression of negative emotions (r +/- .52, p less than .05), and role flexibility and depression (r +/- .52, p less than .05). A weak correlation was found between perceived stress of the injury and illness anxiety. No differences were found in stress and adaptation between the groups of families who had a member with a mild head injury and those with a member with severe head injury, suggesting that both mild and severe head injury have similar impact on the family. A needs assessment of these families was also done.