Takanashi S, Sakka M, Sato I, Watanabe S, Tanaka S, Ooshio A, Saito N, Kamibeppu K. Brain Inj. 2017; 31(3): 312-318.
Affiliation
Department of Family Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine , The University of Tokyo , Bunkyo-Ku , Tokyo , Japan.
OBJECTIVE: The present study clarified factors related to mother-child communication openness when fathers suffer neurobehavioural sequelae after stroke or traumatic brain injury. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using self-report anonymous questionnaires was conducted.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Forty-one mothers with 6-22-year-old children participated. The questionnaire examined personal factors (mother's psychological distress), social/family factors (family support functioning), illness-related factors (father's time at home and neurobehavioural sequelae severity) and mother's perceived level of open communication. Multiple regression was used to analyse factors related to mother-child communication openness.
RESULTS: Mother-child open communication was explained by family support functioning (β = 0.449), father's time at home (β = -0.325) and mother's psychological distress (β = -0.303). Neurobehavioural sequelae severity was not associated with mother-child open communication.
CONCLUSIONS: Personal, social/family and illness-related factors were related to mother-child communication about paternal illness. Professionals should promote optimal family support functioning, connect families with external resources and assess families' interaction processes.