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Neurocognitive and socio-demographic predictors of responsiveness to an online intervention for adolescents with TBI

Karver, Christine L.

Abstract Details

2012, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Psychology.
Adolescents who suffer a brain injury often have difficulty functioning in everyday settings such as school, home, and community, in part because of poor problem-solving skills. However, research on interventions and their efficacy in addressing these issues is lacking. For the current study, we examined neurocognitive and socio-demographic predictors of response to an online problem-solving intervention for adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In doing so, we aimed to identify adolescents who are most likely to benefit from this intervention, with the larger goal of being able to better tailor treatments to the individual. Adolescents who sustained a complicated mild to severe TBI and their families (N = 132) were randomly assigned to Counselor Assisted Problem Solving (CAPS), a 6-month web-based, family-centered intervention that focused on problem solving, communication, and self regulation (n = 66), or to an Internet Resource Comparison group (IRC; n = 66), a group that received a self-guided, information-based program with in-home internet access. Prior to the intervention, measures were administered to assess the behavioral functioning and neurocognitive abilities of the teen in respect to intelligence, verbal memory, and processing speed. A follow-up assessment that included the same behavioral measures was administered six months later. Linear regression was used to test the hypothesis that neurocognitive and socio-demographic factors would predict the degree of behavioral improvement associated with CAPS. Specifically, we hypothesized that lower socio-demographic status and lower neurocognitive functioning would be associated with the greatest decrease in behavioral problems following the CAPS intervention. Hypotheses were partially supported as an interaction was found among group and median family income with the Meta-Cognitive Index from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) as the dependent variable. For this interaction, lower income was associated with the greatest decrease in behavior problems following the CAPS intervention. Additionally, a significant interaction among group and verbal intelligence was found; our hypothesis was again confirmed as lower verbal intelligence was associated with the greatest level of post-interventions behavioral improvement. By understanding factors that predict responsiveness to intervention post-TBI, clinicians will be better able to tailor treatments to the individual, thus improving the efficacy of interventions.
Chung-Yiu Chiu, PhD (Committee Chair)
Rachel Kallen, PhD (Committee Member)
Shari Wade, PhD (Committee Member)
Sarah Whitton, PhD (Committee Member)
79 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Karver, C. L. (2012). Neurocognitive and socio-demographic predictors of responsiveness to an online intervention for adolescents with TBI [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337101388

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Karver, Christine. Neurocognitive and socio-demographic predictors of responsiveness to an online intervention for adolescents with TBI. 2012. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337101388.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Karver, Christine. "Neurocognitive and socio-demographic predictors of responsiveness to an online intervention for adolescents with TBI." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1337101388

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)