Relationship of cognitive/linguistic impairment, activity limitation, participation restriction, and quality of life in adults with traumatic brain injury

This research was conducted with 60 adult survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) who received a battery of measures from each of the World Health Organization's (WHO) classification categories in the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) system and the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) scale. The QOLIBRI is a disease specific measure of quality of life (QOL) currently being developed for international use. The impairment measure was the Ross Information Processing Assessment Second Edition (RIPA-2), the activity measure was the Glasgow Outcome Scale---Extended (GOS-E), and the participation measure was the SF-36. Scores were analyzed using correlational and multivariate statistical techniques in an effort to uncover the interrelationships linking QOL with existing measures. Results revealed moderate correlations between cognitive/linguistic impairment functions of short term memory and working memory/executive function with QOL. There was no significant correlation with activity and QOL. There was a strong correlation between participation and QOL. A multiple regression model using QOL as the dependent measure found the largest predictor was the construct of participation (beta = .77, t = 11.94, p < .000). Short term memory (beta = .24, t = 3.6, p < .001) and working memory/executive level functioning (beta = .17, t = 2.70, p < .009) were also significant predictors of QOL. Activity limitation and long term memory function did not significantly predict QOL.