Spouses’ Quality of Life 1 Year after Stroke: Prediction at the Start of Clinical Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to identify early predictors of spouses’ quality of life at 1 year after stroke. Methods: At the start of clinical rehabilitation patient and caregiver characteristics, psychological factors, harmony in the relationship and social support were assessed. One year after stroke, caregiver burden (Caregiver Strain Index), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Checklist) and depressive symptoms (Goldberg Depression Scale) were assessed in 187 participants. Multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: About 80% of the spouses reported low quality of life on one or more of the measures; 52% reported depressive symptoms, 54% significant strain and only 50% was satisfied with life as a whole. The regression analysis identified ‘passive coping strategy of the caregiver’ as the most important predictor. ADL dependency was the only baseline patient characteristic significantly related to burden and life satisfaction, but explained just 0–4% of the variance. Conclusions: A large proportion of caregivers perceive impaired quality of life 1 year after stroke. Caregivers at risk should be identified at the start of rehabilitation by means of coping measurement instruments or selected anamneses on coping.

Psychosocial Functioning of Spouses of Patients With Stroke From Initial Inpatient Rehabilitation to 3 Years Poststroke

“…13 Inclusion criteria for patients were: first-ever stroke, supratentorial and one-sided lesion, and age Ͼ18 years. Exclusion criteria for patients were disabling comorbidity (prestroke Barthel Index Ͻ18) and inability to speak Dutch.…”

“…In an earlier study, 13 our research group identified "passive coping strategy" as the most important negative predictor of spouses' quality of life 1 year poststroke. Coping styles are related to the psychosocial well-being of persons who are confronted with a negative or stressful life event.…”

Life satisfaction of young adults with spina bifida

“…22,23 The Dutch LiSat-9 has previously been used and showed satisfactory internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.74-0.85). 24,25 Demographic variables taken into account were age and sex. Disease characteristics taken into account were type of SB (occulta or aperta), the level of the lesion (defined as the lowest completely unimpaired level on both sides with sensitivity to pin prick and light touch), and the presence of HC (defined as having been shunted early in life to reduce intracranial pressure).…”

Does Caregiver Well-Being Predict Stroke Survivor Depressive Symptoms? A Mediation Analysis

“…In fact, other studies have demonstrated that stroke survivor cognitive/memory and emotional problems and functional deficits often lead to both caregiver 2,4 and stroke survivor 22,23 depressive symptoms and to lower caregiver life satisfaction. 5,24 The unique contribution of our findings is the mediational results. Even after controlling for demographic variables, caregiver well-being accounted for substantial amounts of variance in the relationship between stroke survivor impairments and problems and stroke survivor depressive symptoms.…”

“…5 Stroke survivor impairments and problems affect many aspects of daily living for caregivers, but data also suggest that caregivers who have a positive well-being, including few depressive feelings 6 and higher life satisfaction, 7 may be better emotionally equipped to handle the stresses of caregiving 5 and potentially reduce stroke survivor depressive symptoms. 8 Although stroke survivor impairments and problems, caregiver depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, and survivor depressive symptoms appear to be related, the direction of these relationships remains unclear.…”