title: Changes in coping style following traumatic brain injury and their  relationship to productivity status.
abstract: The use of maladaptive coping strategies following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to be associated with increased depression and a lower productivity status. What is not known is whether coping behaviours change following TBI and if they do change whether these changes account for significant variance in outcome. Seventy-three significant others of TBI survivors were recruited at the time their friend/family member was injured and followed prospectively. They reported on their friend/family member's pre-injury and 6-month coping behaviours using the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems Scale. The use of emotional pre-occupation coping (p = .02) increased significantly and approached significance for distraction coping(p = .08). These changes in coping also accounted for significant variance (22%, p = .02) in productivity status over and above that accounted for by demographics and injury severity. Whether maladaptive coping changes can be prevented with a view to improving outcomes is a question that now needs to be explored.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cantanzaro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Firestone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Stuss
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004526:Efficiency; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology