Factors associated with strain in co-resident spouses of patients following stroke

To identify the factors associated with carer strain following stroke.

Co-resident spouses of stroke patients were sent questionnaire measures of their perceptions of strain, stress, mood, handicap, adjustment, social support, life satisfaction and personality, and patient's mood and independence in activities of daily living.

Stroke spouses were identified from the stroke register at City Hospital, Nottingham.

In a sample of 222 carers, 37% had significant strain. Strain was highly correlated with negative affectivity on the Positive and Negative Affectivity Scale, carer mood on the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and carer's perceptions of patient's independence in activities of daily living on the Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale (EADL). Logistic regression analysis of 96 of these carers supported the correlations and showed three factors, carer GHQ-12, patient EADL and negative affectivity, were independently associated with carer strain.

The relationship between these factors and strain needs to be tested prospectively. Early identification of carers who may be at risk of strain later on will enable services to be targeted at prevention rather than cure.