title: The impact of neurobehavioral impairment on family functioning and the psychological well-being of male versus female caregivers of relatives with severe traumatic brain injury: multigroup analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the differential effect of neurobehavioral impairments (cognitive, behavioral, and social) on family functioning, family roles, and psychological distress in male versus female caregivers of relatives with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Structural equation modeling with multigroup analysis conducted in a cross-sectional sample to test an established theoretical model.
  
  
  METHODS
  An aggregated sample of 122 caregivers (46 male, 76 female) of people with severe TBI. The sample comprised 64 spouses and 58 parents (29 parental couples) of 93 persons with TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurobehavioral Problem Checklist; Family Assessment Device; and Brief Symptom Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Structural equation modeling showed that the proposed model had acceptable fit indices for the combined sample. Multigroup analysis indicated that both male and female caregivers (i) responded similarly to the neurobehavioral impairments experienced by the injured relative and (ii) reported behavior having a direct effect on family functioning, which, in turn, increased psychological distress. However, the effect of disrupted family functioning was more influential on the level of distress in male caregivers than in female caregivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence was found for gender-specific pathways underlying the psychological distress of male versus female caregivers. Such findings can assist in tailoring family support strategies so that they cater for caregivers of both genders.
authors: Faculty of Nursing and Health, Avondale College of Higher Education, Sydney (Dr Anderson); Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Liverpool Health Service, Sydney (Dr Simpson); Rehabilitation Studies Unit, University of Sydney, Sydney (Dr Simpson); and Faculty of Business, Avondale College of Higher Education, Cooranbong (Dr Morey), New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Malcolm I
authors: MI
authors: Anderson
authors: Grahame K
authors: GK
authors: Simpson
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Morey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*