Racial differences in caregiving patterns, caregiver emotional function, and sources of emotional support following traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
Compare white and African American caregivers of people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding caregiving patterns, emotional function and life satisfaction, and preferred supports.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study; 1, 2, or 5 years post-TBI.


METHODS
Six TBI model systems.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-six caregivers (195 white and 61 African American).


METHODS
Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Satisfaction With Life Scale.


RESULTS
Races differed as to kinship patterns, with more white caregivers including spouses and more African Americans including "other relatives." African Americans spent significantly more time in direct caregiving, and reported more depression. African American TBI survivors were significantly more disabled than whites, which appeared to account for emotional function differences. Whites were more likely to use professional services for emotional support.


CONCLUSIONS
Across races, TBI caregiver emotional health is affected by the functional level of the survivor. African American caregivers may be at risk for worse emotional consequences due to worse survivor outcomes, yet may underutilize professional services.
Hart
Tessa
T
Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19141, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. thart@einstein.edu
O'Neil-Pirozzi
Therese M
TM
Williams
Kelli D
KD
Rapport
Lisa J
LJ
Hammond
Flora
F
Kreutzer
Jeffrey
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*