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Relationship Between Neurocognitive Function and Self-Discrepancy After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Elizabeth Jane Beadle1, Tamara Ownsworth, Jennifer Fleming
1School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland, Australia (Drs Beadle, Ownsworth, and Shum); School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia (Dr Fleming); and Occupational Therapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Wooloongabba, Australia (Dr Fleming).
The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
|December 2, 2017
Summary
Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience negative self-discrepancy, impacting emotional adjustment. Better neurocognitive function, particularly self-awareness, is linked to greater self-discrepancy after TBI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors often report a significant discrepancy between their pre- and post-injury selves.
- This negative self-discrepancy is associated with poorer emotional adjustment.
- The influence of neurocognitive deficits on this self-discrepancy remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neurocognitive functioning and self-discrepancy in individuals with severe TBI.
- To examine how attention, memory, executive functions, and self-awareness relate to post-injury self-perception.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-four adults with severe TBI were assessed.
- Standardized tests measured attention, memory, and executive functions.
- Self-discrepancy and self-awareness were evaluated using specific questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Greater self-awareness was significantly associated with more negative self-discrepancy (r = -0.40, P < .001).
- Better performance in immediate memory, working memory, and verbal fluency also correlated with increased self-discrepancy.
- Self-awareness uniquely predicted self-discrepancy, explaining 8.6% of the variance (P < .05).
Conclusions:
- Improved neurocognitive function, especially self-awareness, is linked to a greater sense of self-discrepancy post-TBI.
- These findings enhance the understanding of identity reconstruction processes following traumatic brain injury.
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