Predictors of caregiver depression among community-residing families living with traumatic brain injury

Objective: To test the hypothesis that ineffective problem-solving abilities would be significantly predictive of risk for depression in caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) after controlling for caregiver burden, caregiver health and demographic characteristics. Design: Correlational and logistic regression analyses of cross-sectional data. Participants: 57 women and 3 men (M age of caregivers=51.4, SD=10.1) caring for a relative with a TBI. Main outcome measure: Centers for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression scale (CES-D). Results: Twenty-nine caregivers (48.3%) had CES-D scores that met the criteria for risk of depression. An ineffective approach to problem solving, characterized by negative, avoidant, and careless/impulsive styles, and self-reported caregiver physical symptoms were significantly predictive of caregiver depression regardless of length of time caregiving, perceived burden, or demographic variables. Conclusions: Caregivers of persons with TBI who report physical health problems and who exhibit ineffective problem solving area at greater risk for depression, regardless of the time they have spent in their role as a caregiver.