title: Exploring the connections between traumatic brain injury caregiver mental health and family dynamics in Mexico City, Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the patterns of family dynamics that are most associated with the mental health of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caregivers from Mexico. It was hypothesized that healthier family dynamics would be associated with better caregiver mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of self-reported data collected from TBI caregivers through the Mexican National Institute of Rehabilitation in Mexico City, Mexico, the premier public medical facility in Mexico that provides rehabilitation services to patients with various disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  One public outpatient medical and rehabilitation facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight caregivers of individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI from Mexico City, Mexico, were related to an individual with TBI who was ≥3 months after injury, a primary caregiver for ≥3 months, familiar with the patient's history, and without neurologic or psychiatric conditions. The average (standard deviation) age of caregivers was 50.94 ± 12.85 years), and 82% were women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The caregivers completed Spanish versions of instruments that assessed their own mental health and family dynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes assessed included family dynamics (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-Fourth Edition; Family Communication Scale; Family Satisfaction Scale; Family Assessment Device-General Functioning; and Relationship-Focused Coping Scale), and caregiver mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Zarit Burden Interview, and Satisfaction with Life Scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of canonical correlation analyses suggested that caregiver mental health and family dynamics were positively related, with a large effect size. Caregivers with high family satisfaction and cohesion tended to have a low burden and high satisfaction with life. In addition, caregiver depression and burden were positively related to each other and were both inversely related to caregiver satisfaction with life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TBI caregiver interventions in Latino populations would likely benefit from including programming or techniques to improve family dynamics, especially family cohesion, given the strong potentially reciprocal influence of these dynamics on caregiver mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA(∗).
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: Lillian F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: Dulce María
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Díaz Sosa
authors.forename: Irma Guadalupe
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Espinosa Jove
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult