title: Trajectories of Life Satisfaction Over the First 10 Years After Traumatic Brain Injury: Race, Gender, and Functional Ability.
abstract: This study investigated the influence of race, gender, functional ability, and an array of preinjury, injury-related, and sociodemographic variables on life satisfaction trajectories over 10 years following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  
  A sample of 3157 individuals with TBI from the TBI Model Systems database was included in this study.
  
  
  
  Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses were conducted to examine the trajectories of life satisfaction.
  
  
  
  The Functional Independence Measure, Glasgow Coma Scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale were utilized.
  
  
  
  Initial models suggested that life satisfaction trajectories increased over the 10-year period and Asian/Pacific Islander participants experienced an increase in life satisfaction over time. In a comprehensive model, time was no longer a significant predictor of increased life satisfaction. Black race, however, was associated with lower life satisfaction, and significant interactions revealed that black participants' life satisfaction trajectory decreased over time while white participants' trajectory increased over the same time period. Life satisfaction trajectories did not significantly differ by gender, and greater motor and cognitive functioning were associated with increasingly positive life satisfaction trajectories over the 10 years.
  
  
  
  Individuals with more functional impairments are at risk for decreases in life satisfaction over time. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms and factors that contribute to the lower levels of life satisfaction observed among black individuals post-TBI. This work is needed to determine strategic ways to promote optimal adjustment for these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX (Dr Williamson); Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX (Dr Elliott); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (Dr Bogner); Departments of Ophthalmology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Dr Dreer); Department of Psychology, University of Deusto. IKERBASQUE. Basque Foundation for Science. Bilbao, Spain (Dr Arango-Lasprilla); Rehabilitation Research Center, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA (Dr Kolakowsky-Hayner); Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center at Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO (Dr Pretz); Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ (Dr Lequerica); Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (Dr Perrin).
authors.forename: Meredith L C
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogner
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dreer
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kolakowsky-Hayner
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pretz
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lequerica
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D044469:Racial Groups; D055815:Young Adult