Social support and psychosocial dysfunction after stroke: buffering effects in a community sample.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Stroke survivors often experience stressful life events post-discharge.
• Psychosocial dysfunction is a significant risk for these individuals.
• The role of social support in mediating these effects requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine social support as a mediator between stressful life events and psychosocial dysfunction in stroke survivors.
• To assess the influence of various components of social support on adjustment.
• To identify protective factors for stroke survivors at risk.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-five stroke survivors were interviewed 2-24 months post-rehabilitation discharge.
• A new instrument, the Social Support Inventory for Stroke Survivors, was utilized.
• The General Health Questionnaire measured psychosocial symptomatology.

Main Results:

• 27% of stroke survivors exhibited psychosocial dysfunction.
• Social support and functional status explained 14.5% of the total variance in outcomes.
• Community social support demonstrated a particularly strong protective effect.

Conclusions:

• Social support plays a crucial role in the adjustment of stroke survivors.
• Targeting community social support may mitigate psychosocial dysfunction.
• Interventions should consider the multifaceted nature of social support for stroke recovery.