Gender differences in factors influencing post-stroke community integration: Cross sectional, correlational study

Area of Science:

• Neurology and Rehabilitation Science
• Social Determinants of Health
• Gender Studies in Health

Background:

• Community integration is crucial for stroke survivors' quality of life.
• Gender differences in factors influencing community integration post-stroke are under-researched.
• Understanding these differences is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify gender-specific factors associated with community integration in stroke survivors.
• To explore how demographic and clinical variables influence community integration differently between men and women stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional correlational study of 316 stroke survivors from a university hospital outpatient clinic.
• Data collected on community integration, demographics, clinical characteristics, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), stroke severity, depression, self-esteem, disability acceptance, rehabilitation motivation, and social support.
• Statistical analysis to determine factors associated with community integration, stratified by gender.

Main Results:

• Men: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and employment status explained 30% of the variance in community integration.
• Women: Education, employment status, IADL, self-esteem, and social support explained 58.6% of the variance in community integration.
• Significant gender disparities observed in factors influencing community integration.

Conclusions:

• Functional rehabilitation focusing on IADL is essential for enhancing community integration in both male and female stroke survivors.
• For women, interventions targeting self-esteem and social support are also critical for improving community integration.
• Tailored, gender-informed strategies are needed to optimize community reintegration for stroke survivors.