Quality of relationship between veterans with traumatic brain injury and their family members

ABSTRACTObjectives: The quality of the relationship between patients with many illnesses and their family members has been shown to affect the well-being of both. Yet, relationship quality has not been studied in traumatic brain injury (TBI), and giving and receiving aspects have not been distinguished. The present study of veterans with TBI examined associations between relationship quality and caregiver burden, satisfaction with caregiving, and veterans’ competence in interpersonal functioning, rated by veterans and family members.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 83 veterans and their family members were interviewed at home. Measures of quality of relationship, veterans’ interpersonal competence and sociodemographics were collected for both, caregiver burden and satisfaction for family members only.Results: As predicted, veteran-rated Qrel/Giving was associated with family-rated Qrel/Receiving, and veteran-rated Qrel/Receiving with family-rated Qrel/Giving. Lower caregiver burden and higher caregi...