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Updated: Jun 7, 2026
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Determining the Functional Status of the Corticospinal Tract Within One Week of Stroke
Published on: February 22, 2020
The relationship of physical function to social integration after stroke
Susan Baseman1, Kathleen Fisher, Louise Ward
1Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA. Baseman-susan@cooperhealth.edu
Summary
Stroke survivors
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability.
- Rehabilitation research often prioritizes physical recovery over social integration.
- There is a knowledge gap regarding social roles post-stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between functional status, depression, and stroke recovery with social integration.
- To identify key predictors of social integration in ischemic stroke survivors.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive, correlational survey design.
- Convenience sample of ischemic stroke survivors.
- Survey response rate of 21.4%.
Main Results:
- Functional status, overall stroke recovery, and depression significantly predict social integration, explaining 62% of the variance.
- Comorbid depression negatively correlates with social integration (r=-.74, p=.01).
- Post-stroke employment status significantly correlates with social integration (p=.03), with a sharp decline in employment.
Conclusions:
- Rehabilitation should address physical, psychosocial, and environmental domains for stroke patients.
- Depression and perceived recovery are crucial factors for promoting social integration.
- Social integration is an understudied but vital aspect of stroke recovery requiring further research.
