Factors influencing mother-child communication about fathers with neurobehavioural sequelae after brain injury.
The present study clarified factors related to mother-child communication openness when fathers suffer neurobehavioural sequelae after stroke or traumatic brain injury.



A cross-sectional study using self-report anonymous questionnaires was conducted.



Forty-one mothers with 6-22-year-old children participated. The questionnaire examined personal factors (mother's psychological distress), social/family factors (family support functioning), illness-related factors (father's time at home and neurobehavioural sequelae severity) and mother's perceived level of open communication. Multiple regression was used to analyse factors related to mother-child communication openness.



Mother-child open communication was explained by family support functioning (β = 0.449), father's time at home (β = -0.325) and mother's psychological distress (β = -0.303). Neurobehavioural sequelae severity was not associated with mother-child open communication.



Personal, social/family and illness-related factors were related to mother-child communication about paternal illness. Professionals should promote optimal family support functioning, connect families with external resources and assess families' interaction processes.
a Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine , The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Shiho
S
Takanashi
a Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine , The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Mariko
M
Sakka
a Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine , The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Iori
I
Sato
b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , the Jikei University School of Medicine , Minato-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Shu
S
Watanabe
c Department of Neurosurgery , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Shota
S
Tanaka
d Kitahara International Hospital , Hachioji City , Japan.
Ayumi
A
Ooshio
c Department of Neurosurgery , Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Nobuhito
N
Saito
a Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine , The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
Kiyoko
K
Kamibeppu
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Behavioural symptoms; brain injury; cognitive impairment; family; stroke