A multidimensional longitudinal analysis of family coping with brain injury

Longitudinal research is needed to advance knowledge and practice in the area of family coping with brain injury. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the dimensions that underlie family coping with brain injury across a 2-year time period (1995 to 1997). Two-dimensional configurations of 30 family coping behaviours indicated a like family coping pattern of cognitive versus behavioural coping (Dimension 1) in both 1995 and 1997. The data also showed that families had a differing, or changed, family coping pattern along Dimension 2 from brain injury-focused coping versus family-to-community fit in 1995 to seeking professional help versus intra-family coping in 1997. Results thus indicated both changes and consistent coping patterns within the same group of families across time. Such information can be used to guide clinical family intervention, the development of long-term family support services, and future brain injury family research.