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Cited by 0Traumatic Brain Injury ResearchTraumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular DisturbancesAutomotive and Human Injury Biomechanics

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Psychosocial outcomes in young adults with childhood traumatic brain injury: A 20‐year follow‐up study

Open access
Botchway‐Commey, Edith, Ryan, Nicholas P., Crowe, Louise, Godfrey, Celia, Macleod, Harry, Hearps, Stephen, Anderson, Vicki A., Catroppa, Cathy·2026·Journal of Neuropsychology

Abstract

We assessed the proportion of childhood TBI survivors who experienced favourable or less favourable psychosocial outcomes (defined as less favourable when 20% or more of the sample report difficulties or unmet needs) compared to controls and to explore factors associated with these outcomes at 20 years post‐TBI. Participants included 54 young adults (age 22–34 years) who sustained mild ( n = 14), moderate ( n = 27), or severe ( n = 13) TBI during childhood, and age and sex‐matched 13 typically developing controls. Outcomes assessed: employment, quality of life, relationships, mental health, offending behaviours, and substance use outcomes. Study‐designed and validated questionnaires (e.g., World Health Organization Quality of Life Bref) were used. Analyses involved descriptive statistics and generalised linear models. A high proportion of TBI participants reported favourable outcomes for offending behaviours (90.7%–94.3%). However, a substantial proportion (24%–87%) of participants reported less favourable outcomes in education, employment, overall QoL, general health, relationships, anxiety, tobacco use, and alcohol use. The TBI group reported significantly lower Overall QoL compared to controls, and the mild TBI group was at a greater risk of reporting less favourable outcomes. Other significant predictors of outcomes were younger age at injury and lower SES at the time of injury. These findings highlight that some psychosocial domains (e.g., relationships) are more affected than others (e.g., offending behaviours) in young adults with childhood TBI. Further research is needed to identify factors influencing psychosocial outcomes and to develop targeted interventions for young adults with childhood TBI.

Overview

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TL;DR

In a 20-year follow-up of 54 young adults with childhood TBI and 13 typically developing controls, many reported favourable outcomes in offending behaviour and work satisfaction, but substantial proportions reported less favourable outcomes in education, employment, QoL, relationships, mental health, and substance use. TBI was significantly associated with poorer overall QoL, and younger age at injury and lower SES at injury predicted some outcomes.

Key findings

  • Of 16 outcomes, 50% were classified as predominantly less favourable in the TBI group (≥20% reporting difficulties/unmet needs); highest less-favourable rates were alcohol use (87.0%), relationship status (40.7%), and general health (38.9%), while highest favourable rates were non-marijuana use (90.7%), no offending behaviours (90.7%–94.3%), and satisfaction with work (93.2%).
  • TBI vs controls: only overall QoL differed significantly, with 16.7% of TBI vs 0% of controls reporting poor QoL [χ² = 4.207, df = 1, N = 67, p = .040].
  • By severity, the mild TBI group had the most predominantly less favourable domains (10/16, 62.5%), followed by severe (8/16, 50%) and moderate (6/16, 37.5%); significant differences were limited to marijuana use (mild 28.6% vs moderate 3.7% vs severe 0%, p = .018) and unemployment (mild 0% vs severe 38.5%, p = .014).
  • Predictors: lower SES at injury was associated with higher likelihood of employment (adjusted β = −.90, p = .040); more frequent alcohol use was associated with younger age at injury (adjusted β = −.53, p = .003) and lower SES at injury (adjusted β = .78, p = .044); relationship status was associated with younger age at injury unadjusted (β = −.21, p = .035), but attenuated after controlling for therapies (p = .079).

Methods

  • Prospective longitudinal 20-year follow-up of a childhood TBI cohort recruited at injury from consecutive neurosurgical admissions at an Australian Children’s Hospital between June 1993 and June 1997; current sample included 54 TBI participants (mild n = 14, moderate n = 27, severe n = 13; age M = 27.7, SD = 3.3) and 13 age/sex-matched typically developing controls.
  • Outcomes covered 16 dichotomised psychosocial domains across education, employment, QoL, relationships, mental health, offending behaviours, and substance use, using study-designed items and validated measures (e.g., WHOQoL-BREF, DASS); less favourable outcomes were defined as ≥20% reporting difficulties/unmet needs, a threshold borrowed from obesity research.
  • Analyses used descriptive statistics, χ² tests, ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis/Mann–Whitney tests, and generalised linear models (binary logistic) for predictors in the TBI group; adjusted models controlled for age at injury and self-reported therapies where severity groups differed.

Limitations

  • Stated: high attrition (only 31% of the original TBI sample participated), underrepresentation of males and high-SES participants, small sample size, no control for maternal factors, use of single/multiple items for most outcomes, self-report with possible limited insight, and use of a ≥20% threshold from obesity literature rather than a TBI-specific cutoff.
  • Stated/evident: no formal registration or power calculations; the control group was small (n = 13); non-participants differed from participants (more likely male, higher SES, lower IQ), limiting generalisability.
  • Evident: the 20-year outcome assessment is cross-sectional for the reported outcomes, so causal direction cannot be established; multiple outcomes and predictors raise the possibility of chance findings, though some adjusted models are reported.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/jnp.70042

Cites

57 of 57 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Figures

FIGURE 1 TBI and controls—differences in proportion (%) of participants with favourable and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. Favourable vs. less favourable outcomes were categorised as follows, respectively: Education (Undergraduate/technical/postgraduate vs. Highschool/Lower), employment status (employed vs. unemployed), satisfaction with ability to work (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), Overall QoL (Good vs. Poor), Overall general health (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), relationships status (in a relationship vs. not in a relationship), satisfaction with personal relationships (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), life is meaningful (Great/extremely meaningful vs. not/small/moderately meaningful), depression/anxiety (normal/mild vs. moderate to extremely severe), offending behaviours (Never vs. One or more times), substance use (Less often used—Never/Once/twice a month/Few times a year; Often used—At least once a week/almost every day). QoL, quality of life. Outcome areas (e.g., education) were classified as having ‘predominantly favourable outcomes’ when ≥80% of participants for a particular group (e.g., TBI) have positive outcomes and ‘predominantly less favourable outcomes’ when ≥20% of participants reported difficulties or unmet needs.
FIGURE 1 TBI and controls—differences in proportion (%) of participants with favourable and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. Favourable vs. less favourable outcomes were categorised as follows, respectively: Education (Undergraduate/technical/postgraduate vs. Highschool/Lower), employment status (employed vs. unemployed), satisfaction with ability to work (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), Overall QoL (Good vs. Poor), Overall general health (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), relationships status (in a relationship vs. not in a relationship), satisfaction with personal relationships (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), life is meaningful (Great/extremely meaningful vs. not/small/moderately meaningful), depression/anxiety (normal/mild vs. moderate to extremely severe), offending behaviours (Never vs. One or more times), substance use (Less often used—Never/Once/twice a month/Few times a year; Often used—At least once a week/almost every day). QoL, quality of life. Outcome areas (e.g., education) were classified as having ‘predominantly favourable outcomes’ when ≥80% of participants for a particular group (e.g., TBI) have positive outcomes and ‘predominantly less favourable outcomes’ when ≥20% of participants reported difficulties or unmet needs.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 2 TBI severity groups—differences in proportion (%) of participants with favourable and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. Favourable vs. less favourable outcomes were categoried as follows, respectively: Education (Undergraduate/technical/postgraduate vs. Highschool/Lower), employment status (employed vs. unemployed), satisfaction with ability to work (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), Overall QoL (Good vs. Poor), Overall general health (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), relationships status (in a relationship vs. not in a relationship), satisfaction with personal relationships (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), life is meaningful (Great/extremely meaningful vs. not/small/moderately meaningful), depression/anxiety (normal/mild vs. moderate to extremely severe), offending behaviours (Never vs. One or more times), substance use (Less often used—Never/Once/twice a month/Few times a year; Often used—At least once a week/almost every day). QoL, quality of life. Outcome areas (e.g., education) were classified as having ‘predominantly favourable outcomes’ when ≥80% of for a group (e.g., mild TBI) have positive outcomes and ‘predominantly less favourable outcomes’ when ≥20% of participants for a group reported difficulties or unmet needs.
FIGURE 2 TBI severity groups—differences in proportion (%) of participants with favourable and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. Favourable vs. less favourable outcomes were categoried as follows, respectively: Education (Undergraduate/technical/postgraduate vs. Highschool/Lower), employment status (employed vs. unemployed), satisfaction with ability to work (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), Overall QoL (Good vs. Poor), Overall general health (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), relationships status (in a relationship vs. not in a relationship), satisfaction with personal relationships (satisfied vs. dissatisfied), life is meaningful (Great/extremely meaningful vs. not/small/moderately meaningful), depression/anxiety (normal/mild vs. moderate to extremely severe), offending behaviours (Never vs. One or more times), substance use (Less often used—Never/Once/twice a month/Few times a year; Often used—At least once a week/almost every day). QoL, quality of life. Outcome areas (e.g., education) were classified as having ‘predominantly favourable outcomes’ when ≥80% of for a group (e.g., mild TBI) have positive outcomes and ‘predominantly less favourable outcomes’ when ≥20% of participants for a group reported difficulties or unmet needs.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Daniel A. E., 1983, Power, privilege, and prestige: Occupations in Australia
  2. Greenhalgh E. M., 2024, Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues

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Metadata

Authors
Botchway‐Commey, E., Ryan, N. P., Crowe, L., Godfrey, C., Macleod, H., Hearps, S., Anderson, V. A., & Catroppa, C.
Affiliations
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute Melbourne Victoria Australia
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute (AU)
Venue
Journal of Neuropsychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2026-04-15
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
445-467
ISSN
  • 1748-6645 (ISSN-L)
  • 1748-6653
OpenAlex
W7154490355
Cited by
0
References
57
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Neuropsychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deakin Research Online (Deakin University) (cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Automotive and Human Injury Biomechanics
Keywords
pediatric traumatic brain injury, psychosocial outcomes, young adults, quality of life, employment, relationships, mental health, offending, substance use, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, age at injury, long-term follow-up, mild traumatic brain injury
MeSH terms
Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Psychosocial Functioning, Adult, Employment, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult

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