Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the patterns of family dynamics that are most associated
with the mental health of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caregivers from Mexico. It
was hypothesized that healthier family dynamics would be associated with better
caregiver mental health. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of self-reported data
collected from TBI caregivers through the Mexican National Institute of
Rehabilitation in Mexico City, Mexico, the premier public medical facility in
Mexico that provides rehabilitation services to patients with various
disabilities. SETTING: One public outpatient medical and rehabilitation facility.
PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight caregivers of individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI
from Mexico City, Mexico, were related to an individual with TBI who was >/=3
months after injury, a primary caregiver for >/=3 months, familiar with the
patient's history, and without neurologic or psychiatric conditions. The average
(standard deviation) age of caregivers was 50.94 +/- 12.85 years), and 82% were
women. METHODS: The caregivers completed Spanish versions of instruments that
assessed their own mental health and family dynamics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:
Outcomes assessed included family dynamics (Family Adaptability and Cohesion
Evaluation Scale-Fourth Edition; Family Communication Scale; Family Satisfaction
Scale; Family Assessment Device-General Functioning; and Relationship-Focused
Coping Scale), and caregiver mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Zarit
Burden Interview, and Satisfaction with Life Scale). RESULTS: Results of
canonical correlation analyses suggested that caregiver mental health and family
dynamics were positively related, with a large effect size. Caregivers with high
family satisfaction and cohesion tended to have a low burden and high
satisfaction with life. In addition, caregiver depression and burden were
positively related to each other and were both inversely related to caregiver
satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: TBI caregiver interventions in Latino
populations would likely benefit from including programming or techniques to
improve family dynamics, especially family cohesion, given the strong potentially
reciprocal influence of these dynamics on caregiver mental health.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS