Traumatic brain injury and adverse life events: Group differences in young adults injured as children

To investigate whether individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience a greater number of adverse life events (ALE) compared to controls, to identify significant predictors of experiencing ALE and whether the severity of childhood TBI negatively influences adult life outcomes.

A total of 167 individuals, injured prior to age 18, 5 or more years post-injury and 18 or more years of age, were recruited in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, with 124 having sustained childhood TBI (62 mild, 62 moderate/severe) and 43 orthopaedic injury controls. Participants were asked about ALE they had experienced and other adult life outcomes.

Individuals with a history of TBI experienced more ALE compared to controls. The number of ALE experienced by an individual was associated with more visits to the doctor, lower education level and lower satisfaction with material standard of living.

Childhood TBI is associated with an increased number of ALE and adult negative life outcomes. Understanding factors that contribute to negative outcomes following childhood TBI will provide an avenue for rehabilitation and support to reduce any problems in adulthood.