Health Disparities in Medically Underserved Populations: Traumatic Brain Injury Caregivers

AI Summary

Caregivers of adults with traumatic brain injury face substantial mental health burden, amplified among medically underserved populations.
Social determinants and structural factors shape caregiving demands, stress exposure, and inequitable access to supports and health care.
Calls for development of culturally responsive, strengths-based, community-engaged interventions and research to reduce disparities and support caregivers.

TL;DR (AI Generated)

Caregivers of adult patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience substantial mental health burden, with risks elevated among those caring for medically underserved TBI populations.

This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mental health disparities among TBI caregivers, highlighting the role of social determinants of health in shaping caregiving demands, stress exposure, and access to resources.

Guided by the Stress Process Model of Caregiving, the review examines racial/ethnic disparities in caregiving, caregiving in low-income and middle-income countries, and structural determinants of caregiver distress.

Basic summary

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2027 Feb;38(1):141-153. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2026.08.008. Epub 2026 Sep 8.

ABSTRACT

Caregivers of adult patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience substantial mental health burden, with risks elevated among those caring for medically underserved TBI populations. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mental health disparities among TBI caregivers, highlighting the role of social determinants of health in shaping caregiving demands, stress exposure, and access to resources. Guided by the Stress Process Model of Caregiving, the review examines racial/ethnic disparities in caregiving, caregiving in low-income and middle-income countries, and structural determinants of caregiver distress. Implications for culturally responsive interventions, strengths-based approaches, and community-engaged research are discussed.

PMID:43025914 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmr.2026.08.008

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