Family risk factors are related to warfighter brain health: A dyad study

This study aimed to explore family risk factors for chronic neurobehavioral symptoms in service members and veterans (SMVs) with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

SMVs (n = 72) completed eight neurobehavioral outcome measures. Their family members (n = 72) completed 13 family risk factor measures assessing physical, psychological, and social health, and family functioning. The number of neurobehavioral measures that were clinically elevated (≥ 60T) were summed and used to classify SMVs into three outcome groups: (a) none/few symptoms (0-1 elevated scores), (b) several symptoms (2-3 elevated scores), and (c) many symptoms (4-8 elevated scores).

SMVs in the many symptoms group had family members with significantly higher scores on nine family risk factor measures compared to family members of SMVs in the none/few symptoms group and two family risk factors compared to family members of SMVs in the several symptoms group. SMVs in the several symptoms group had family members with higher scores on three risk factor measures compared to family members of SMVs in the none/few symptoms group. Family member Anger was the most significant predictor of the total number of SMV elevated scores followed by family functioning, together accounting for 26.9% of the variance.

An important and unique addition to the literature was the finding that a range of risk factors in the warfighter's family environment were strongly associated with clinically elevated chronic neurobehavioral symptoms following a TBI of any severity. More attention to the well-being of family members and their role in warfighter recovery and return to duty following a TBI are required. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).