Changes in coping style following traumatic brain injury and their  relationship to productivity status.
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.
Dawson
D R
DR
Cantanzaro
A M
AM
Firestone
J
J
Schwartz
M
M
Stuss
D T
DT
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