Life satisfaction in spouses of patients with stroke during the first year after stroke

The aims of this study were to investigate whether spouses' life satisfaction changed between their life prior to their partner's stroke, and at 4 months and 1 year after stroke, and to study the association between spouses' life satisfaction and objective characteristics of the stroke patients.

Sixty-seven consecutively enrolled spouses to first-ever stroke patients < 75 years of age participated. Life satisfaction was measured with the Life Satisfaction Checklist (LiSat-9).

Compared with their life before stroke, the spouses' satisfaction with life as a whole, their leisure situation, daily occupation, sexual life, partner relationship and social contacts was lower 4 months after stroke. No significant change in life satisfaction was observed between 4 months and 1 year. Spouses of patients with sensorimotor impairment and low ability in self-care were less satisfied with their leisure situation, daily occupations, own ability in self-care, sexual life and partner relationship. Spouses of patients with cognitive or astheno-emotional impairments were less satisfied with their partner relationship, family life and sexual life. The associations were stronger at 1 year than at 4 months.

There is a need for support over a long time period that focuses on the social, occupational and leisure situation of spouses as well as that of patients.