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The Relatives’ Big Five Personality Influences the Trajectories of Recovery of Patients After Severe TBI: A Multilevel Analysis

Journal of Personality

Published online on

Abstract

This study examines the influence of the personality of relatives on the trajectories of recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present subsample (N = 376) of a larger population‐based, prospective, 12‐month multicenter cohort study in Switzerland (2007–2011) consists of patients with severe TBI (age ≥ 16) and their relatives. The predictors are the NEO Five‐Factor Inventory and time (trajectory of functioning of the patient over time). The outcomes are the patients’ (a) neurological functioning; (b) reported emotional, interpersonal, cognitive, and total functioning post‐injury; and (c) health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The covariates included Abbreviated Injury Scale score of the head region and age. Results for patients > 50 are (a) relatives’ Extraversion influenced patients’ total, interpersonal, and cognitive functioning; (b) relatives’ Agreeableness influenced patients’ interpersonal functioning; and (c) relatives’ Conscientiousness influenced patients’ physical HRQoL (ps < .05). Results for patients ≤ 50 are (a) relatives’ Neuroticism influenced patients’ neurological and emotional functioning, and (b) relatives’ Extraversion influenced patients’ emotional functioning and psychological HRQoL (ps < .05). The personality traits of the relative covary with the functioning of the patient, and psychological adaptation to the loss of function may progress at a later stage after physical health improvements have been achieved. Thus, a biopsychosocial perspective on the rehabilitation process is needed.