Social Support as a Predictor of Community Participation After Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Participation is a key goal in neurorehabilitation, yet many stroke survivors face significant challenges resuming daily activities.
• While caregiver support impacts stroke recovery, the specific role of social support in post-discharge participation remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the independent contribution of perceived social support to participation levels 3 months after inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
• To identify factors influencing participation outcomes in older adults following ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Populations dataset (2005-2006).
• Included 422 adults (≥55 years) discharged after ischemic stroke.
• Hierarchical linear regression used to analyze the relationship between social support and participation, controlling for demographic, clinical, and psychological variables.

Main Results:

• Perceived social support at discharge significantly predicted participation 3 months later (β = 0.396, P < 0.001).
• Social support uniquely explained 12.2% of the variance in participation.
• Social support was a stronger predictor of participation than FIM Motor scores and depression.

Conclusions:

• Perceived social support is a critical, independent predictor of community and home participation post-stroke rehabilitation.
• Rehabilitation professionals should prioritize addressing social support during discharge planning to enhance participation.
• Future interventions should focus on bolstering social support without increasing caregiver burden.