Defining Spiritual Wellbeing in Survivors of Stroke: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Stroke recovery presents significant physical and emotional challenges for survivors.
• Spirituality and spiritual wellbeing practices are often utilized by stroke survivors for coping.
• The lived experience of spiritual wellbeing among stroke survivors remains under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of spiritual wellbeing in stroke survivors.
• To identify specific spiritual wellbeing practices adopted by stroke survivors.
• To understand the role of spirituality in the post-stroke recovery journey.

Main Methods:

• A convergent parallel mixed-methods approach was employed.
• Virtual focus groups were conducted with stroke survivors and caregivers.
• Quantitative survey data on spirituality from the All of Us research database were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Spirituality was defined by survivors as trust in a higher power and emotional balance.
• Commonly identified spiritual practices included mindfulness, prayer, and spending time in nature.
• Survey data revealed that 70% of respondents felt a connection to a higher power, and 90.4% felt spiritually touched by nature.

Conclusions:

• Spiritual wellbeing is integral to stroke recovery and can inform targeted interventions.
• Practices such as mindfulness, prayer, and nature engagement are significant for stroke survivors.
• Further research is needed to develop tailored spiritual interventions for diverse stroke survivor populations.