Association of Lifetime TBI and Military Employment with Late Life ADL Functioning: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and military employment with activities of daily living (ADL) in late life. DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study with biennial follow-up and censoring at the time of dementia diagnosis. SETTING: Community-based integrated health care delivery system. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=4953) were men (n=2066) and women (n=2887) aged ≥65 years who were dementia free. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ADL difficulties at baseline and accumulation during follow-up. RESULTS: TBI with loss of consciousness (LOC) before the age of 40 years was associated with slightly higher ADL difficulty at baseline for women (rate ratio [RR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.93; P=.01). For men, TBI with LOC at any age was associated with greater ADL difficulty at baseline (age <40y: RR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.20-2.08; P=.001; age ≥40y: RR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.24-3.68; P=.006). TBI with LOC was not associated with the rate of accumulation of ADL difficulties over time in men or women. There was no evidence of an association between military employment and either outcome, nor of an interaction between military employment and TBI with LOC. Findings were consistent across a variety of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigation into factors underlying greater late life functional impairment among survivors of TBI is warranted.

Mentorship in rehabilitation psychology: Attitudes and perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize how mentorship has been perceived, received, and practiced by individuals in the field of rehabilitation psychology across the career lifespan. METHOD: Current members of the American Psychological Association Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) were invited to complete an electronic survey via REDCap assessing individual experiences and perspectives on mentorship. Thematic analysis was used to identify key constructs and themes. RESULTS: 39 participants (n = 25 mentors) completed the survey with valid responses. Participants spanned the career lifespan, ranging from predoctoral trainees to late-senior psychologists. Mentorship was generally perceived as helpful for both mentors and mentees. Several important qualities of mentors (e.g., availability, communication skills, self-disclosure, and emotional support) and mentees (e.g., flexibility, motivation, and openness to feedback) were identified. Among both groups, mentorship was viewed as especially beneficial for obtaining American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) board certification, which may reflect an aspect of mentoring unique to Division 22. Existing gaps in mentorship and key areas for improvement were also identified; access to mid- to late-career mentorship emerged as a notable gap in mentorship. Increased program structure, networking opportunities, and research mentorship were also identified as possible areas of growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides meaningful insights into mentorship within the field of rehabilitation psychology. Our findings demonstrate the value of mentorship across the career lifespan, and the beneficial role of mentorship in obtaining ABPP board certification. In addition, we identify key areas of growth that can inform and improve mentorship within the field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).