A multidimensional longitudinal analysis of family coping with brain injury

Longitudinal research is needed to advance knowledge and practice in the ar ea of family coping with brain injury. The purpose of this investigation wa s to examine the dimensions that underlie family coping with brain injury a cross a 2-year time period (1995 to 1997). Two-dimensional configurations o f 30 family coping behaviours indicated a like family coping pattern of cog nitive versus behavioural coping (Dimension 1) in both 1995 and 1997. The d ata also showed that families had a differing, or changed, family coping pa ttern along Dimension 2 from brain injury-focused coping versus family-to-c ommunity fit in 1995 to seeking professional help versus intra-family copin g in 1997. Results thus indicated both changes and consistent coping patter ns within the same group of families across time. Such information can be u sed to guide clinical family intervention, the development of long-term fam ily support services, and future brain injury family research.