TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Stigma on Community Reintegration of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury and the Well-Being of Their Caregivers
AU - Phelan, Sean M.
AU - Bangerter, Lauren R.
AU - Friedemann-Sanchez, Greta
AU - Lackore, Kandace A.
AU - Morris, Megan A.
AU - Van Houtven, Courtney H.
AU - Carlson, Kathleen F.
AU - van Ryn, Michelle
AU - Harden, Kristin J.
AU - Griffin, Joan M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, and a grant from the Health Services Research and Development Service (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) (grant no. SDR-07-044). The findings and conclusions presented in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Health Services Research and Development Service. The sponsor was not involved in any aspect of the study’s design and conduct; data collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - Objective: To assess the association between perceived stigma and discrimination and caregiver strain, caregiver well-being, and patient community reintegration. Design: A cross-sectional survey study of 564 informal caregivers of U.S. military service veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who experienced traumatic brain injuries or polytrauma (TBI/PT). Setting: Care settings of community-dwelling former inpatients of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. Participants: Caregivers of former inpatients (N=564), identified through next-of-kin records and subsequent nominations. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Caregiver strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem; as well as care recipient community reintegration, a key aspect of TBI/PT rehabilitation. Results: Family stigma was associated with strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and less community reintegration. Caregiver stigma-by-association was associated with strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and lower self-esteem. Care recipient stigma was associated with caregiver strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and less community reintegration. Conclusions: Perceived stigma may be a substantial source of stress for caregivers of U.S. military veterans with TBI/PT, and may contribute to poor outcomes for the health of caregivers and for the community reintegration of the veterans for whom they provide care.
AB - Objective: To assess the association between perceived stigma and discrimination and caregiver strain, caregiver well-being, and patient community reintegration. Design: A cross-sectional survey study of 564 informal caregivers of U.S. military service veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who experienced traumatic brain injuries or polytrauma (TBI/PT). Setting: Care settings of community-dwelling former inpatients of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. Participants: Caregivers of former inpatients (N=564), identified through next-of-kin records and subsequent nominations. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Caregiver strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem; as well as care recipient community reintegration, a key aspect of TBI/PT rehabilitation. Results: Family stigma was associated with strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and less community reintegration. Caregiver stigma-by-association was associated with strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and lower self-esteem. Care recipient stigma was associated with caregiver strain, depression, anxiety, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and less community reintegration. Conclusions: Perceived stigma may be a substantial source of stress for caregivers of U.S. military veterans with TBI/PT, and may contribute to poor outcomes for the health of caregivers and for the community reintegration of the veterans for whom they provide care.
KW - Caregiving
KW - Mental health prejudice
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Stigma
KW - Traumatic brain injury
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U2 - 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.04.007
DO - 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.04.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 29729228
AN - SCOPUS:85048488751
SN - 0003-9993
VL - 99
SP - 2222
EP - 2229
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 11
ER -