Employment status among individuals afflicted by acquired brain injury: exploring economic consequences for both the affected person and their family (Situacin laboral en personas con lesin cerebral adquirida: estudio sobre el impacto econmico individual y familiar)

Background: Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) are conditions that can result in decreased workforce engagement and economic earnings. This research study aims to explore the impact of ABIs on employability, and their potential to reduce individual and family income. Method: Using data from the II National Survey on Disability, a cohort of 9,835 individuals aged 18 to 65 was chosen. Subsequently, a sample of 110 ABI-affected individuals was selected, employing propensity score matching to ensure equivalence with a control group of healthy subjects (n = 110). Results: The study found that the presence of ABI and disability decreases the likelihood of employment and labour force engagement. These differences persist even after accounting for covariate effects. However, no conclusive predictive association was established regarding individual and family income levels, despite observed disparities across the analysed groups. Discussion: The obtained findings can contribute to raising awareness regarding the general employment situation of individuals with ABI, and facilitate policy-making in the context of inclusion and vocational rehabilitation initiatives.