Trait Mindfulness, Rumination, and Well-being in Family Caregivers of People with Acquired Brain Injury

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between trait mindfulness, rumination, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in family caregivers of people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Participants were 78 caregivers (75.6% women) aged between 22 and 80 years. The participants completed measures of behavioral and emotional problems in the person with ABI, trait mindfulness, symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, and rumination. The results showed that mindfulness is associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and better quality of life, and that this is explained through less use of rumination. Likewise, behavioral and emotional problems of the person with ABI were associated with more depression and lower quality of life in the caregiver. Rumination explained part of this association. Finally, behavioral and emotional problems of the person with ABI were more strongly associated with depression in caregivers with low trait mindfulness.

Keywords

• acquired brain injury
• family caregivers
• rumination
• quality of life