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Learning Objective 1: 1. describe effects of a preschooler’s head trauma on their mothers and families 6 months after hospital discharge.
Learning Objective 2: 2. describe implications of the study’s findings for clinical practice and future research.
Methods: Sample - 89 mothers of previously healthy preschool children hospitalized with head injury – event where head trauma was possible, at least one physical finding suggesting head injury. Exclusion criteria – severe cognitive deficits prior to injury, suspected child abuse, child being evaluated with brain death criteria, parent(s) hospitalized or died in injury event. 51% of the mothers were white, 33% Black, 16% Hispanic; 67% were partnered. 53% of the children were hospitalized initially in the PICU. Most sustained only head injury, and 40% experienced loss of consciousness at the scene. Half of the head injuries were serious (19%) or severe (30%). Based on Family Resiliency Model, mothers completed Mental Health Inventory (MHI), Parenting Stress Index, FACES II, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support at 6 months post-discharge and perceived injury severity, Parental Stressor Scale: PICU, MHI (baseline) at 24-48 hours after hospital admission. Injury severity scale was completed through chart review.
Results: Mothers' mental health, mother-child relationship, and family functioning did not differ between the PICU group and the general care unit group (t-tests). Bivariate correlations indicated that greater maternal stress (PSS:PICU) in the hospital, lower baseline mental health, longer hospital stays, and greater injury severity were related to decreased psychological wellbeing for mothers at 6 months post-discharge. Mothers' greater psychological distress in the hospital was related to greater parenting stress and psychological distress, and lower family cohesion at 6 months post-discharge. Continuing social support was related to great family cohesion and adaptability, less distress and greater wellbeing at 6 months.
Conclusions: Baseline mental health and ongoing social support had important influences on mother, mother-child, and family outcomes at 6 months.
Funding: NINR #R01 NR04430.
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