Affiliations: [a] Department of Medicine – Immunology / Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA | [b] Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA | [c] School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA | [d] Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Patricia Rivera, PhD, Injury Control Research Center, CH19-401 1530 3rd Avenue South, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2041, USA. Tel.: +1 205 934 3464; Fax: +1 205 975 8143; E-mail: rivera@uab.edu
Abstract: Objective:To test the hypothesis that ineffective problem-solving abilities would be significantly predictive of risk for depression in caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) after controlling for caregiver burden, caregiver health and demographic characteristics. Design:Correlational and logistic regression analyses of cross-sectional data. Participants:57 women and 3 men (M age of caregivers = 51.4, SD = 10.1) caring for a relative with a TBI. Main outcome measure:Centers for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression scale (CES-D). Results:Twenty-nine caregivers (48.3%) had CES-D scores that met the criteria for risk of depression. An ineffective approach to problem solving, characterized by negative, avoidant, and careless/impulsive styles, and self-reported caregiver physical symptoms were significantly predictive of caregiver depression regardless of length of time caregiving, perceived burden, or demographic variables. Conclusions:Caregivers of persons with TBI who report physical health problems and who exhibit ineffective problem solving area at greater risk for depression, regardless of the time they have spent in their role as a caregiver.
