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Maternal and Paternal Distress and Coping Over Time Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Megan E Narad1, Keith O Yeates2, H Gerry Taylor3

  • 1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|September 17, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Fathers experienced more distress than mothers 18 months after a child's traumatic brain injury (TBI) or orthopedic injury (OI), but this difference faded over time. Denial coping varied by sex and injury severity, particularly after severe TBI.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Parental coping and distress are critical factors in a child's recovery following significant injury.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and orthopedic injuries (OI) present distinct challenges for families.
  • Understanding sex-based differences in parental response is crucial for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare maternal and paternal coping strategies and distress levels after pediatric TBI and OI.
  • To investigate the long-term trajectory of parental adjustment following these injuries.
  • To identify specific coping mechanisms and their relationship with injury severity and parental sex.

Main Methods:

  • A concurrent cohort/prospective study design.
  • Involved 87 children hospitalized for TBI and 119 for OI (ages 3-6 years).
  • Utilized mixed models analyses with five assessments from 1 to 7 years post-injury.

Main Results:

  • Fathers reported higher depression and general distress than mothers at 18 months post-injury, but not long-term.
  • Active and acceptance coping strategies were not associated with parental sex, injury type, or time.
  • Denial coping showed a significant interaction: fathers reported more denial after severe TBI at 18 months, while mothers reported more at long-term follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Parental responses to early childhood TBI are complex and evolve over time.
  • The observed differences in coping and distress suggest a need for ongoing clinical support for parents.
  • Interventions may be warranted even years after the initial injury, particularly for severe TBI cases.
Abstract

Keywords:
accidents and injurieschildrencopingparent stress

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