Protective factors for poor psychological adjustment outcomes following a traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background: To the best of our knowledge, positive psychological protective factors against negative psychological outcomes following a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has yet to be explored, including the administration of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFLI) to a TBI population. Objectives: To identify if higher levels of protective factors (self -esteem, proactive coping, resilience and reasons for living) is related to lower levels of negative psychological outcomes (negative affect, stress, anxiety, depression, hopelessness and suicide ideation) in a TBI population. Method: An observational prospective cross-sectional design. Pearson's Correlations and Independent Sample T-Tests explored strengths of relationships and differences between means in a sample of 30 community patients from the Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (LBIRU). Results: Positive protective factors (all but self-esteem) were shown to play a significant protective role against at least one negative psychological outcome. Resilience played the strongest protective role, with results indicating significantly lower levels of anxiety, depression, hopelessness and suicide ideation for those who had higher levels of resilience. People with elevated levels of depression, hopelessness and suicide ideation also had significantly lower scores on the Survival and Coping Beliefs subscale and Moral Objection to Suicide subscale of the RFLI. Conclusions: Certain protective factors appeared to be significantly associated with lower levels of negative psychological outcomes after a TBI. Survival and Coping Beliefs and Moral Objection to Suicide in the RFLI also appeared to be play a protective role against suicide ideation. The findings suggest the possibility of encouraging and building protective factors in people's lives after a TBI should be incorporated into the rehabilitation therapy process. The RFLI could also be considered as a screening tool for suicidal intent or risk following TBI.

Date of Award	2017
Original language	English