Improving well-being after traumatic brain injury through volunteering: a randomized controlled trial.
Lisa Payne, Lenore Hawley, Clare Morey and 5 others
PMID 32343631WHAT IT FOUND
A structured volunteering program improved life satisfaction and perceived success in people with traumatic brain injury, but did not reduce anxiety, depression, or overall psychological distress.
The benefits appeared after the 18-week intervention and lasted through 6-month follow-up.
Key findings
01Participants in the volunteering group showed significantly greater increases in life satisfaction than controls at 30 and 42 weeks.
02The intervention significantly improved self-perceived success at 42 weeks, but not at earlier time points.
03There were no significant differences between groups in psychological distress, positive/negative affect balance, or sense of purpose in life.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The control group was not blinded to their assignment and knew they would receive the intervention later, which may have influenced their well-being scores. Attrition was present, with 16 participants missing data at one or more time points. The treatment group had higher baseline anxiety and distress scores than the control group, though this was adjusted for in the analysis. The sample was predominantly female, which may not reflect the typical TBI population demographics. The intervention was complex (orientation, placement, ongoing support), making it difficult to attribute effects solely to the act of volunteering.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this intervention reduces clinical depression or anxiety. The study found no significant difference between groups in psychological distress, depression, or anxiety scores, despite improvements in life satisfaction.