You Only Get One Brain: Adult Reflections on the Long-Term Impacts of Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescence. Issue 3 (2nd December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mulligan, Therese; Barker-Collo, Suzanne; Gibson, Kerry; Jones, Kelly
• Is Part Of: Brain impairment. Volume 23:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2022-12-02
• Subjects: Adolescent -- impacts -- qualitative -- traumatic brain injury; Brain Diseases -- Congresses; Brain Diseases -- Periodicals; Brain -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1017/BrImp.2021.22
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1443-9646

Abstract

Abstract: Background: This research adds to scarce literature regarding adolescent experiences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Retrospective accounts of young adults who had sustained a TBI in adolescence were analysed to explore the perceived impact this had on their lives and forming identities during this important developmental stage. Methods: Thirteen adults (aged 20–25 years; mean 23 years) who sustained a mild or moderate TBI during adolescence (i.e. aged 13–17 years at injury), approximately 7.7 years (range = 6.7–8.0 years) prior, participated in the research. Semi-structured individual interviews, analysed using thematic analysis, explored participants' experiences following their TBIs. Results: Thematic analysis of interview data produced two categories of themes: (1) Impacts on Important Areas of Life, which included: schoolwork suffered, career opportunities became limited, struggling with work and missing out socially; and (2) Impacts on Identity: with themes including feeling 'stupid', feeling self-conscious, loss of social identity and being dependent. Conclusions: TBI sustained during adolescence can have broad impacts on important areas of life and on developing identity.