Affiliations: [a] Northcentral University, Prescott Valley, AZ, USA | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [c] Department of Psychology, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia | [d] Department of Social Sciences, Pontificia University Javeriana of Cali, Cali, Colombia | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Tara Lehan, Ph.D., Research Specialist, P.O. Box 4503, Richmond, VA 23220, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 3661; Fax: +1 804 827 0663; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Advances in medical and assistive technology have increased the likelihood of survival following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Consequently, families frequently must provide care to individuals with TBI. Because they are rarely prepared for the associated demanding medical needs and financial burden, family caregivers are at risk for physical and emotional problems, which can negatively influence their individual and family functioning. Whereas scholars have examined the influence of survivor functioning on caregiver burden, few have explicitly recognized that caregiver burden also influences survivor functioning. Results of a multivariate linear regression suggest that, in a sample of 51 pairs of TBI survivors and their caregivers living in Colombia, survivors receiving care from a family member who reported a higher level of burden had poorer objective neuropsychological functioning than those receiving care from a family member who reported a lower level of burden, after controlling for survivor education and history of occupational therapy. Therefore, a family-focused approach might maximize intervention effectiveness, especially for Latin American and Hispanic families, which tend to be characterized by a strong sense of familism. The emphasis on family can create problems in a healthcare system that views the individual as the primary unit.
Keywords: Caregivers, burden, traumatic brain injury, neuropsychological functioning, family system
