‘We are the forgotten victims’: Perspectives of adult siblings of persons with traumatic brain injury

2010 
Primary objective: This study determined how the lives of a cross-national sample of adult siblings had changed since their brothers and sisters incurred a traumatic brain injury.Research design: A total of 272 participants provided responses to the question, ‘How is your life different since your sibling had a TBI?’ Responses were analysed through the constant comparative method of textual analysis.Methods and procedures: Responses were collected through a mailed-survey. The analysed question appeared at the end of a 243-item quantitatively-based survey containing five open-ended questions.Outcomes and results: Three themes emerged: (1) ‘Family impacts’ such as growing up with a sibling with TBI and impact on family closeness; (2) ‘Caring’ including caring for and about the family member; and (3) ‘Making sense of the experience’ through adjustment and personal development.Conclusions: The study demonstrates that having a sibling with a TBI can result in profound and enduring negative and positive life ch...
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