A Longitudinal Study of Relationships between Identity Continuity and Anxiety Following Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective: Anxiety is of particular importance following acquired brain injury (ABI), because anxiety has been identified as a significant predictor of functional outcomes. Continuity of self has been linked to post ABI adjustment and research has linked self-discrepancy to anxiety. This longitudinal study investigates the impact of affiliative and ‘self as doer’ self-categorisations anxiety.Materials and Methods: Data was collected at two time points. Fifty-three adult ABI survivors participating in post-acute community neuro-rehabilitation participated at time one and 32 of these participated at time two. Participants completed a 28-item identity questionnaire based on Leach et al.’s (2008) multicomponent model of ingroup identification which measured the strength of affiliative and self as doer identities. Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: Analysis indicates a significant mediated relationship between affiliative identification and anxiety via self as doer identification. Contrary to initial prediction, this relationship was significant for those with consistency in affiliative self-categorisation and inconsistency in ‘self as doer’ self-categorisation.Conclusion: These findings can be interpreted as evidencing the importance of identity continuity and multiplicity following ABI and contribute to the understanding of these through the use of a social identity approach.

Social cure and social curse: Social identity resources and adjustment to acquired brain injury

“…However, consistent with emerging evidence from social identity research (e.g. Walsh et al, 2017), our participants also reported social identity continuity. Participants talked about family, and how identification with their family, community supports and group activity was an important resource they relied upon in their most difficult times.…”

“…Walsh et al, 2017), our participants also reported social identity continuity. However, consistent with emerging evidence from social identity research (e.g.…”

“…For example, loss of valued occupational group memberships is often reported after experiencing a traumatic brain injury (Walsh, Fortune, Gallagher, & Muldoon, 2014). Similarly, in the first year following ABI, impairments can mean those affected lose their pre-morbid social group (Walsh, Muldoon, Fortune, & Gallagher, 2017). On the other hand, the loss of social identities in post-injury life is only one part of social identity change.…”

The social psychology of responses to trauma: social identity pathways associated with divergent traumatic responses

“…Indeed, having access to this type of affiliative identity provided support and was also an important basis for accessing additional new active (or "doing") identities. It was the combined contribution of these two types of identities that predicted lower psychological distress in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (Walsh, Muldoon, Fortune, & Gallagher, 2017). Maintained identities seem to foster social support but also to facilitate the acquisition of new identities that have psychological benefits for those facing traumatic and life-changing injuries (see Figure 2).…”

Identity processes and eating disorder symptoms during university adjustment: a cross-sectional study

“…Speaking to this issue, the social identity approach suggests that people’s social connections – and the identity-related behaviour they derive from them – are important for improving health [ 3 ]. Researchers have also shown how identity continuity in times of transition is important for health outcomes [ 4 , 5 ]. While much of the research in the ED literature has focused on how identities can maintain disordered behaviours, McNamara et al demonstrated that a shared sense of identity with others in an online support group can reduce ED symptoms [ 6 ].…”