Family quality of life and the impact of communication impairments in individuals with acquired brain injury

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a leading cause of long-term dependency worldwide. Its consequences, particularly those affecting communication and language, significantly impact both the individual and overall family functioning. This study aimed to: (1) characterize family quality of life (FQoL) in families of adults with chronic ABI in Spain; (2) examine discrepancies between perceived importance and satisfaction across FQoL dimensions; and (3) assess how the severity of communication impairments relates to FQoL satisfaction outcomes. Seventy-one primary family caregivers completed an ad hoc questionnaire including the FQoL scale, which assesses five dimensions - Family interaction, Role of family members, Emotional well-being, Resources and support, and Physical and material well-being - each rated for importance and satisfaction. Non-parametric analyses revealed significant variation in caregiver ratings across dimensions for both importance and satisfaction, with Emotional Well-being receiving the lowest satisfaction scores. In all dimensions, importance ratings significantly exceeded satisfaction, with large effect sizes, indicating widespread unmet needs. Greater severity of communicative impairments was associated with significantly lower satisfaction in Emotional well-being, Resources and support, and Physical and material well-being. These findings underscore the relevance of communication impairments as a critical factor influencing FQoL and highlight emotional health as a particularly vulnerable area.