title: Friendship, loneliness and psychosocial functioning in children with traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares friendship quality, rates of loneliness and general psychosocial functioning in children who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with non-injured controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A between-subjects design with 14 participants in the TBI group and 14 in the non-injured control group, aged between 7-13 years and matched for age, gender, receptive vocabulary and socio-economic status. Children completed measures of receptive vocabulary (BPVS II), friendship quality (FQQ-R) and loneliness (LSDS). The main caregiver was asked to assess social skills and social withdrawal (PIC-2) and general psychosocial and behavioural functioning (SDQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were not found on measures completed by children or on the PIC-2. On the SDQ, total difficulties were rated as much greater by caregivers in the TBI group (z = -2.6, p = 0.009) and these were mainly associated with sub-scales relating to emotional problems and hyperactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst evidence for friendship problems was not found in children with TBI, evidence for emotional and behavioural difficulties that may lead to social vulnerabilities later in life were found. This indicates a need for prospective longitudinal research to explore the complex relationship between TBI and poorer social outcomes that may not become evident until adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit for Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Kimberley A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dorris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires