Personal Resources in Recovery: A Quantitative Study of Resiliency, Grit, and Coping in Rehabilitation Following Acquired Brain Injury

Abstract

This thesis explores the role of personal resources, including personality and
coping style, in rehabilitation following acquired brain injury (ABI).

The first chapter consists of a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
addressing the effectiveness of coping skills groups in improving coping in those with an
ABI. Five articles were eligible for inclusion and comprised single group design and
blind randomised controlled trials. A small, statistically non-significant effect size was
found for improving coping following coping skills group interventions. This was the
first meta-analytic review of its kind, finding no evidence to support the implementation
of coping skills groups for improving coping in ABI. Some articles reported
improvements across other physical, psychological, and social outcomes.

The second chapter reports empirical research investigating the influence of
personality traits on successful return to meaningful activity (RTMA) and return to
work (RTW) following ABI. Twenty-six participants were prospectively recruited from a
rural community brain injury rehabilitation service more than a year following ABI.
Participants completed several questionnaires capturing resilience, grit, awareness,
cognitive function, demographic, and vocational information. Only higher cognitive
function scores predicted RTMA, but not RTW. This suggests that of the antecedent,
mediating, and post-injury factors examined measures of grit and resiliency did not
predict outcome following ABI after accounting for cognitive function. The implications
and limitations of this finding are discussed.

The third chapter explores the outcome of the meta-analytic review and
empirical papers, discussing implications for theory, further research, and clinical
practice. An explanatory model of recovery in ABI is used to contextualise the thesis,
followed by a discussion of potential research regarding personality and attachment in
recovery. Clinical implications of personality style and coping in individualised and
systemic interventions are discussed.

The thesis concludes with a reflective piece exploring the personal and
professional thoughts of the trainee.