Social support, coping, and psychological adjustment among caregivers of head-injured patients

The purpose of this study was to test a mediational model of risk and prote ctive factors associated with the psychological adjustment of caregivers of head-injured patients. Ferry-three caregivers of patients who had suffered a head injury participated in the study. Findings strongly supported hypot heses. Caregiver burden was associated with poorer psychological adjustment . Social support and a higher percentage of approach coping strategies rela tive to overall coping strategies were associated with better psychological adjustment. As predicted, caregiver burden showed a direct relationship to psychological adjustment, while social support showed an indirect relation ship to adjustment mediated by percentage approach coping.