Improving well-being after traumatic brain injury through volunteering: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Brain injury 2020-05, Vol.34 (6), p.697-707
• Main Authors: Payne, Lisa, Hawley, Lenore, Morey, Clare, Ketchum, Jessica M., Philippus, Angela, Sevigny, Mitch, Harrison-Felix, Cynthia, Diener, Ed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: life satisfaction; Traumatic brain injury; volunteering; well-being
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1752937

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel intervention facilitating volunteer activity to improve well-being in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Randomized two-arm controlled trial, with a wait-list control condition (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT#01728350). Community-based setting. Seventy-four community-dwelling individuals at least 1-year post TBI, who had completed inpatient or outpatient TBI rehabilitation. A novel intervention, HOPE - Helping Others through Purpose and Engagement, involving orientation/training and a 3-month volunteer placement for the participant, along with training for community agencies regarding TBI. ): Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS); Flourishing Scale (FS); Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18); Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE); Purpose in Life subscale (one of six in the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-Being - 54 item version). There were significantly greater improvements in life satisfaction (SWLS) and self-perceived success (FS) in the intervention group compared to the control group. There were no significant treatment effects on the additional secondary measures of well-being, although they trended in a positive direction. This study supports our primary hypothesis that individuals who take part in a volunteer intervention will demonstrate greater psychological well-being in comparison to a control group.