SOCIODEMOGRAPHICS AND FAMILY SYSTEM FUNCTIONING IN CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY: AN EXPLORATORY QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

After sustaining a stroke, TBI, or other acquired brain injury (ABI), most are cared for by an immediate family member. These family caregivers are tasked with providing a wide range of physical and socioemotional care, with little support from the healthcare system in their own adjustment. In this exploratory study, 38 family caregivers of individuals with ABI completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Family Assessment Measure III (FAM-III), a measure of family functioning. Quantitative data analyses were performed to examine the relationship between caregiver sociodemographic factors (i.e. gender) and family functioning. The aims of this exploratory study were to a) assess distress in family functioning in a small sample of family caregivers and b) elucidate any sociodemographic factors that are associated with distress in the family system. Implications of the findings for counselors are also explored, including how the FAM-III can be used in clinical rehabilitation practice.