Social and psychological influences on satisfaction with life after brain injury

Abstract

BackgroundIn spite of the increased focus of education and awareness programs on prevention and safety surrounding Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), over 50,000 Canadians and 900,000 Americans sustain a brain injury every year. Given the psychological impact of an ABI, there is a growing body of literature examining the links between injury, mental health, and life satisfaction in brain injury survivors; specifically, changes in leisure activities, employment, and the struggles with injury related deficits contribute to increased social isolation, depression, and loneliness. ObjectivesThe current study examined personality characteristics, unmet needs, and psychosocial risk factors in survivors of brain injuries. MethodsIn this cross-sectional online study, 592 brain injury survivors completed questionnaires to assess psychological variables associated with their current life situation. ResultsWe found high levels of depression among survivors, with 47.6% of participants reporting moderate or severe levels of depression and 41.2% reporting suicidal ideation. Although survivors reported lower life satisfaction than population norms, satisfaction was only slightly lower in those with a recent (less than two years) injury. Overall, regression models accounted for 50.1% of the variability in satisfaction with life. Increased engagement in leisure activities, higher emotional stability (p < .001) and sociability (p < .01) coupled with lower depression (p < .001) and romantic loneliness (p < .001) significantly predicted satisfaction with life. ConclusionsThese results could aid in the development of policies and procedures surrounding the discharge of patients that includes a plan for increasing social leisure activities within the community and providing ongoing support for survivors when formal rehabilitation ceases.