Parental coping following childhood acquired brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine parental coping following an acquired brain injury of their child, the relationship between maternal and paternal coping, and the extent to which social support and family environment affect parental coping.


METHODS
A cross-sectional design was used.


METHODS
Parents (n = 30) of children with acquired brain injury provided relevant demographic data and completed questionnaires investigating coping, social support and perceptions of family environment.


RESULTS
Perception-focused coping strategies were used most often by parents. Mothers had a more extensive repertoire than fathers, and the relationship between maternal and paternal coping appeared to be complementary. Relationships were found between emotion-focused coping and instrumental support (r = 0.39) and perception-focused coping and family cohesion (r = 0.37).


CONCLUSIONS
Recognizing parental coping styles, enhancing the development of positive strategies, and underscoring the importance of social support and the family environment will assist parents to cope positively with their child's acquired brain injury.
Benn
Kelly Marie
KM
Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
McColl
Mary Ann
MA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support