Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine &
Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada | Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of
Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, AB, Canada | Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada | Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine &
Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Note: [] Corresponding author: Marghalara Rashid, Department of
Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Room 3-077, Edmonton Clinic
Health Academy (ECHA), 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, T6G 1C9, AB, Canada. Tel.: +1
780 248 5591; Fax: +1 780 248 5625; E-mail: marghala@ualberta.ca
Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the impact moderate to severe traumatic
brain injury (TBI) in a child has on family functioning. METHODS: The search was conducted using 9 bibliographic databases for articles published
between 1980 and 2013. Two reviewers independently screened for inclusion and
assessed study quality. Two reviewers extracted study data and a third checked
for completeness and accuracy. Findings are presented by three domains:
injury-related burden and stress, family adaptability, and family cohesion. RESULTS: Nine observational studies were included. Across the studies,
differences between study groups for family functioning varied, but there was a
trend for more dysfunction in families whose child had a severe TBI as compared
to families whose child had a moderate TBI or orthopedic injury. In three
studies, injury-associated burden was persistent post-injury and was highest in
families whose child had a severe TBI followed by families with a child who had
a moderate TBI. One study found fathers reported more family dysfunction caused
by their child's injury compared to mothers. Two studies found that mothers'
adaptability depended on social support and stress levels while fathers'
adaptability was independent of these factors and injury severity. CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe TBI has a significant, long-standing impact on
family functioning. Factors associated with family adaptability vary by
parental role.
Keywords: Family function, family dysfunction, family burden, traumatic brain injury, TBI, head injury
