An Investigation Into The Impact of Trait Perfectionism and Self-Criticism On Adjustment Following a Stroke.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury that is caused to the brain after birth. The impact of brain injury on the survivor may be to leave cognitive and behavioural difficulties that result in them requiring care. Many carers are the relatives of the individual and this can have a considerable impact on the carer’s well-being as well as their relationship with the injured person. The objective of this literature review is to evaluate recent literature around how family members cope with the process of caring for a relative with a brain injury. I start by introducing coping and the models that inform how coping mediates stress; I then go on to review some of the recent research that has looked at coping in carer relatives and finally I evaluate some of the challenges that are faced in interpreting the research and moving forward in the field. Although some of the evidence for particular coping strategies is mixed, one consistent finding is social support for carers appears to be a key factor in reducing distress and promoting good family functioning. The implications of this on clinical practice are then discussed