Ecological momentary assessment of affect in context after traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE: To describe where, with whom, and how time was spent daily, and to characterize positive and negative affect, boredom, enjoyment, and perceived accomplishment as a function of time, activity, location, and social context, in people with chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury and depression/anxiety.

RESEARCH METHOD: Participants (N = 23) responded to a smartphone app five times daily for approximately 2 weeks prior to treatment in a trial of Behavioral Activation. The app queried activity and physical/social context; concurrent positive and negative affect; and perceived boredom, enjoyment, and accomplishment. Descriptive statistics captured time use, and linear mixed models were used to analyze relations between affect and contextual factors.

RESULTS

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) response rate was positively correlated with integrity of episodic memory and education. Participants spent most time at home versus elsewhere, and alone versus with others. The most frequent activity was watching TV. Mixed model results based on 17 participants with >33% response rate showed that positive affect was associated with being outside of home, and with other people; however, socializing was related to higher negative affect. TV watching was related to lower negative affect but also low accomplishment.

CONCLUSIONS

EMA can provide unique information on the effects of social context and activity on mood in TBI. Clinicians should consider negative as well as positive affect associated with increasing social participation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).