The Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Social Participation in Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Veterans Affairs Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can negatively affect quality of life and social functioning. This study examined the relationship between PTSD and social participation in a cohort of veterans and service members (V/SM). Participants included 242 adults enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (VA TBIMS) multicenter study. Social participation was measured with the Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective. PTSD symptoms were assessed with the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version at admission, and TBI severity was determined with the Glasgow Coma Scale. Neither TBI severity nor PTSD were associated with lower social participation at 1-year post-TBI. Marital status was the only significant predictor of social participation within this sample of V/SM with primarily moderate to severe TBI. Married V/SM with TBI reported more social participation which could lead to better rehabilitation outcomes. Unmarried V/SM may need more assistance with engagement in social activities, which can be a rehabilitation treatment target.