Coping strategies as a predictor of post-concussive symptoms in children with mild traumatic brain injury versus mild orthopedic injury

J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2011 Mar;17(2):317-26. doi: 10.1017/S1355617710001700. Epub 2011 Jan 18.

Abstract

This study examined whether children's coping strategies are related to post-concussive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) versus orthopedic injury (OI). Participants were 8- to 15-year-old children with mild TBI (n = 167) or OI (n = 84). They rated their current preferred coping strategies and post-injury symptoms at 2 weeks (baseline) and 1, 3, and 12 months post-injury. Children's reported use of coping strategies did not vary significantly over time, so their baseline coping ratings were examined as predictors of post-concussive symptoms across time. Self-ratings of symptoms were positively related to emotion-focused strategies and negatively related to problem-focused engagement after both mild TBI and OI. Higher problem-focused disengagement predicted larger group differences in children's ratings of symptoms, suggesting that problem-focused disengagement moderates the effects of mild TBI. Coping strategies collectively accounted for approximately 10-15% of the variance in children's post-concussive symptoms over time. The findings suggest that coping may play an important role in accounting for children's perceptions of post-concussive symptoms after mild TBI.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Child
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Female
  • Foot Injuries / complications*
  • Glasgow Outcome Scale
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Personality Inventory
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome / etiology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Time Factors