Understanding How Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Impacts the Career and Independence of Young Adults

Research on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and its impact on young adults is limited, despite this being an important time in their lives to work toward independence and career development. We analyzed data on 663 persons aged 17-29 years old with mTBI (i.e., TBI with Glasgow Coma Scale scores 13-15) and 170 controls who did not experience an injury from the multicenter, Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI study. We assessed participants with mTBI, subdivided into those with computed tomography (CT) evidence of TBI (CT+) and those without (CT-), at 12 months post-injury with measures to examine symptom persistence, work and school status, and functional outcomes. Results indicated differences between mTBI and control participants related to return-to-work, return-to-school, and persistent symptoms. Those in the mTBI group were more likely to experience adverse symptoms and detrimental functional effects compared with controls at 12-months post-injury. However, other factors that may not have been measured could have contributed to these outcomes. Young adults are in a transition period where they are working to achieve independence and to establish careers; however, if they sustain a TBI, they, their families, and their medical providers may not understand how the injury contributes to their outcomes, and they may also have limited experience in seeking resources for care. Outcomes for mTBI could also disrupt their career and life trajectories, making this an important area for further investigation and intervention.