Tracey A Brickell1,2,3, Louis M French1,2,3, Sara M Lippa1,2, Rael T Lange1,2,4. 1. a Research Division , Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda , Maryland , USA. 2. b National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda , Maryland , USA. 3. c Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , Maryland , USA. 4. d University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the (a) health status and caregiving appraisal and (b) influence of perceived burden on health and appraisal in a sample of caregivers helping service member/veterans (SMVs) following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Participants were caregivers (N = 283, female = 96.1%, 86.2% = spouse/partner) of SMVs who sustained a mild-severe or penetrating TBI. Participants completed the Caregiver Appraisal Scale (CAS) and the SF-36v2 Health Survey (SF-36v2). Participants were divided into three burden groups: high, neutral, and low. RESULTS: Almost half the sample (48.8%) reported negative feelings on the CAS Perceived Burden scale. A substantial proportion had lower scores than a normative sample on four SF-36v2 physical health scales (35.1-64.5%) and four mental health scales (70.7-79.8%). A significant main effect was found across caregiver burden groups on three CAS scales (p = 0.010 to p < 0.001), two SF-36v2 component scores (all ps < 0.001), and eight SF-36v2 scales (p = 0.001 to p < 0.001). Caregivers with high perceived burden reported significantly worse scores, except CAS Caregiving Ideology. All CAS and SF-36v2 scales were significant predictors of CAS Perceived Burden scores (all ps< 0.001), with the SF-36v2 Social Functioning scale accounting for the most variance (32.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Health care and social services are needed for caregivers who help SMVs to foster resilience, wellness, and growth.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the (a) health status and caregiving appraisal and (b) influence of perceived burden on health and appraisal in a sample of caregivers helping service member/veterans (SMVs) following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS:Participants were caregivers (N = 283, female = 96.1%, 86.2% = spouse/partner) of SMVs who sustained a mild-severe or penetrating TBI. Participants completed the Caregiver Appraisal Scale (CAS) and the SF-36v2 Health Survey (SF-36v2). Participants were divided into three burden groups: high, neutral, and low. RESULTS: Almost half the sample (48.8%) reported negative feelings on the CAS Perceived Burden scale. A substantial proportion had lower scores than a normative sample on four SF-36v2 physical health scales (35.1-64.5%) and four mental health scales (70.7-79.8%). A significant main effect was found across caregiver burden groups on three CAS scales (p = 0.010 to p < 0.001), two SF-36v2 component scores (all ps < 0.001), and eight SF-36v2 scales (p = 0.001 to p < 0.001). Caregivers with high perceived burden reported significantly worse scores, except CAS Caregiving Ideology. All CAS and SF-36v2 scales were significant predictors of CAS Perceived Burden scores (all ps< 0.001), with the SF-36v2 Social Functioning scale accounting for the most variance (32.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Health care and social services are needed for caregivers who help SMVs to foster resilience, wellness, and growth.
Entities:
Keywords:
Caregiver; burden; polytrauma; post-traumatic stress; service member veteran; traumatic brain injury
Authors: Ida M H Borgen; Solveig L Hauger; Marit V Forslund; Ingerid Kleffelgård; Cathrine Brunborg; Nada Andelic; Unni Sveen; Helene L Søberg; Solrun Sigurdardottir; Cecilie Røe; Marianne Løvstad Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-02-12 Impact factor: 4.241
Authors: Tracey A Brickell; Bridget A Cotner; Louis M French; Noelle E Carlozzi; Danielle R O'Connor; Risa Nakase-Richardson; Rael T Lange Journal: Rehabil Psychol Date: 2020-01-23
Authors: Noelle E Carlozzi; Michael A Kallen; Tracey A Brickell; Rael T Lange; Nicholas R Boileau; David Tulsky; Robin A Hanks; Jill P Massengale; Risa Nakase-Richardson; Phillip A Ianni; Jennifer A Miner; Louis M French; Angelle M Sander Journal: Rehabil Psychol Date: 2019-10-03