Quality of life for individuals with traumatic brain injury : the influence of attachment security and partner support

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that can have diverse and wide-ranging effects. Survivors of TBI often experience a unique constellation of symptoms with cognitive, emotional, and physical sequela. The present study sought to elucidate the effects of TBI on romantic relationship satisfaction. A sample of 122 survivors of TBI completed an online survey. All participants were at least 18 years old and were in a romantic relationship of at least six months’ duration. Participants were surveyed regarding their attachment security, relationship satisfaction, partner support, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Results from a multiple regression analysis indicated that attachment security accounted for a significant amount of variance in HRQOL whereas relationship satisfaction and partner support did not. Additionally, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine if there were significant differences between male and female survivors of TBI in terms of relationship satisfaction and HRQOL. Results of the one-way ANOVA indicated no gender differences in either variable. Implications for theory and practice and directions for future research are discussed.