PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the process of recovery of self-awareness with consideration for the variables of severity of injury and deficit factors. RESEARCH DESIGN: A longitudinal, descriptive design was used. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Eighteen participants and their significant others were interviewed using the Awareness Questionnaire at 1 week, 1 month, 4 months and 1 year post-injury. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Participants differed in self-awareness according to severity of injury, deficit factors and time post-injury. Overall, participants with mild TBI demonstrated better self-awareness. There was a significant interaction effect between severity of injury and time post-injury. Reduced self-awareness of cognitive deficits was noted for the participants with moderate and severe TBI. CONCLUSIONS: Time post-injury, severity of injury and deficit factors are confounding variables in the study of self-awareness.