Do caregivers of traumatic brain injury survivors experience post-traumatic growth? A mixed-methods study exploring the positive experiences of informal caregivers

Background There are currently 5.7million informal caregivers in the UK, with many experiencing psychological distress, compromised social functioning and poor quality of life. Improving the negative impact of caregiving has been a key focus of research in this population. However, there is limited research on the positive experiences of informal caregivers, particularly those caring for traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors. This study aimed to explore whether informal TBI caregivers have positive experiences resulting from their role and investigate the possibility of post-traumatic growth (PTG). Methods Mixed-methods study. Quantitative data analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Data sets were synthesised and compared for agreement. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with informal TBI caregivers, alongside a demographic questionnaire and validated PTG measure (Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form, PTGI-SF). Results Ten TBI caregivers were recruited (n =10 male). The highest-scoring PTGI-SF domain across participants was 'personal strength' (mean=8.3; standard deviation, s.d.=1.5). The lowest-scoring domain was 'greater appreciation for life' (mean=7.1, s.d.=2.6). Six qualitative themes included: (1) deepened personal connections, (2) strengthened spiritual beliefs, (3) personal growth and resilience, (4) transformed life priorities and purpose, (5) improved coping mechanisms and (6) emergence of new opportunities and pathways. Findings revealed how caregivers adapted positively through caregiving experiences. Conclusions TBI caregivers appeared to experience PTG through caring. Future studies should employ mixed-methods to explore PTG in female TBI caregivers, adaptive coping strategies and the prevalence of occupational burden, facilitating the development of targeted interventions.