Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
25.0K
Marital instability after brain injury: An exploratory analysis
Jeffrey S Kreutzer1, Adam P Sima2, Jennifer H Marwitz3
1Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurological Surgery and Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Neurorehabilitation
|April 1, 2016
Summary
Marriages involving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor show surprising stability, despite high levels of distress. Relationship quality, not just marital status, predicts stability for couples after TBI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Spousal caregivers play a vital role in traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery.
- TBI adversely impacts both survivors and their uninjured partners.
- Limited research has explored TBI's effect on marital relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize marital stability after TBI from patient and partner perspectives.
- To identify predictors of marital stability post-TBI.
Main Methods:
- Forty-two couples (mild to severe TBI) participated.
- Marital Status Inventory assessed relationship stability.
- Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) measured relationship quality.
Main Results:
- 24% of patients and 29% of partners perceived marital instability.
- 72% of individuals agreed on relationship stability.
- 52% of patients and 50% of partners reported significant marital dissatisfaction.
- RDAS scores predicted marital stability.
- High marital stability was observed despite significant distress.
Conclusions:
- Marital stability extends beyond simple married/separated/divorced classifications.
- Contrary to some research, post-TBI relationships may not be inherently prone to instability.
- Relationship quality is a key factor in maintaining marital stability after TBI.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Attachment Styles
694
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
694
01:27Dissociative Disorders
856
Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
856