Characteristics associated with satisfaction with life 1 year post traumatic brain injury in a population of Hispanic individuals

Objective: To determine which demographic, injury, rehabilitation, and follow-up characteristics are associated with satisfaction with life in a population of Hispanic individuals 1 year post-traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Longitudinal dataset of the TBI Model Systems National Database. Participants: 291 Hispanic adults with TBIs occurring between 1999 and 2008 having year 1 follow-up data. Main outcome measure: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) measured 1 year post-TBI. Results: The relationships between SWLS 1 year post-injury and a variety of demographic, injury, rehabilitation, and follow-up characteristics were modeled using generalized linear models. The final multivariable model explained 25.2% of variability in SWLS (F (7, 261)=12.6, p < 0.001) and included quadratic effects for both age at injury and FIM cognitive scores 1 year post-injury, as well as effects for associated SCI and employment status 1 year post-injury (all p-values ≤ 0.036). In general, higher age, no associated SCI, not being unemployed at 1 year post-injury, and very high or very low FIM cognitive scores were associated with greater SWLS scores 1 year post-injury. Conclusions: These results suggest a variety of demographic, injury, and follow-up characteristics are related with SWLS 1 year post-TBI in Hispanic individuals. Focusing rehabilitation efforts on improving cognition and vocational skills may improve SWLS in Hispanics 1 year post-TBI.