Grief reactions of mothers of adolescents and young adults with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

One hundred and two mothers of adolescents and young adults with traumatic brain injury completed a modified Grief Experience Inventory (GEI) (Sanders, Mauger, & Strong, 1985) and rated their child's functioning on a modified Neurobehavioral Rating Scale (NRS) (Levin et al., 1987). More severe grief was reported by mothers who rated their children as having poor neurobehavioral functioning and by mothers of young adult rather than adolescent patients. The guilt component of grief varied significantly across the 3-year post-injury period measured in the study. Historical comparisons of these respondents with other bereaved populations showed that mothers of adolescent and young adults with head injury reported more intense grief than parents who had experienced other significant non-death losses.