title: The Relatives' Big Five Personality Influences the Trajectories of Recovery of Patients After Severe TBI: A Multilevel Analysis.
abstract: This study examines the influence of the personality of relatives on the trajectories of recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present subsample (N = 376) of a larger population-based, prospective, 12-month multicenter cohort study in Switzerland (2007-2011) consists of patients with severe TBI (age ≥ 16) and their relatives. The predictors are the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and time (trajectory of functioning of the patient over time). The outcomes are the patients' (a) neurological functioning; (b) reported emotional, interpersonal, cognitive, and total functioning post-injury; and (c) health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The covariates included Abbreviated Injury Scale score of the head region and age. Results for patients > 50 are (a) relatives' Extraversion influenced patients' total, interpersonal, and cognitive functioning; (b) relatives' Agreeableness influenced patients' interpersonal functioning; and (c) relatives' Conscientiousness influenced patients' physical HRQoL (ps < .05). Results for patients ≤ 50 are (a) relatives' Neuroticism influenced patients' neurological and emotional functioning, and (b) relatives' Extraversion influenced patients' emotional functioning and psychological HRQoL (ps < .05). The personality traits of the relative covary with the functioning of the patient, and psychological adaptation to the loss of function may progress at a later stage after physical health improvements have been achieved. Thus, a biopsychosocial perspective on the rehabilitation process is needed.
authors.affiliation: Harvard University.|Department of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Chiara S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Haller
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D000075384:Neuroticism; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult