A biopsychosocial investigation of changes in self-concept on the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale. Issue 8 (17th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reddy, Avneel; Ownsworth, Tamara; King, Joshua; Shields, Cassandra
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Volume 27:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1103
• Page End: 1123
• Publication Date: 2017-11-17
• Subjects: Self-concept -- Traumatic brain injury -- Neuropsychological functioning; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Clinical neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2015.1114499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-2011

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the influence of the "good-old-days" bias, neuropsychological functioning and cued recall of life events on self-concept change. Forty seven adults with TBI (70% male, 1–5 years post-injury) and 47 matched controls rated their past and present self-concept on the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (HISD) III. TBI participants also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests. The matched control group of 47 were from a sample of 78 uninjured participants who were randomised to complete either the Social Readjustment Rating Scale—Revised (cued recall) or HISD (non-cued recall) first. Consistent with the good-old-days bias, participants with TBI rated their pre-injury self-concept as more positive than their present self-concept and the present self-concept of controls ( p < .05). More positive pre-injury self-concept ratings were related to lower estimated premorbid IQ and poorer verbal fluency and delayed memory ( p < .05). For uninjured participants, cued recall, life events and event appraisals each accounted for unique variance in self-concept change ( p < .01) after controlling for negative affect. The cued recall group rated their past self-concept as significantly more negative than the non-cued group ( p < .01). Overall, the good-old-days bias, neuropsychological functioning and cued recall influenced reports of self-concept change by affecting retrospective ratings of past self-concept. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of contextual cues on self-concept change after TBI.