Predictors of outcome after mild traumatic brain injury in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is parental over control associated with post-concussion symptoms and poor psychosocial reintegration following paediatric mild traumatic brain injury?
IRAS ID
138608
Contact name
Felicity Cowdrey
Contact email
Research summary
Young people have been identified as a high risk group for brain injury. The majority of young people who present in Emergency departments (EDs) with head injury are classified as having a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Such injury may result in a number of symptoms which are collectively known as post concussion symptoms (PCS). PCS symptoms may include dizziness, sleep disturbance and headaches. These symptoms typically resolve within a few days post-injury. However, for some young people (up to 40%), PCS symptoms do not resolve within the expected time frame. These children report persistent PCS symptoms which can interfere with psychosocial reintegration post-injury. Research has identified a number of environmental, psychological and social variables which contribute to good versus poor outcome following mTBI. Parents play a significant role in their child’s recovery following head injury. For example, parental distress and perceived burden post-injury have been associated with outcome following brain injury. However, specific parenting styles have not been evaluated. The child anxiety literature consistently demonstrates a link between parental over control and child anxiety and there is evidence that over control stifles a child’s sense of mastery and competence. Parental over control is also thought to foster beliefs that the world is a dangerous place and children are vulnerable and need protecting. With this in mind, it seems plausible that an over controlling parenting style may in part explain difficulties reintegrating following a head injury. To date, the association between parental over control and child outcome following mTBI has not been investigated. The aim of this questionnaire-based study is to examine the link between parental over control and outcome (both in terms of PCS and psychosocial reintegration) in children who present at the ED with a mTBI.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/0188
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion