The social challenges faced by stroke survivors

This study looked at what factors contribute to social restrictions experienced by stroke survivors. 

A stroke occurs when there is a disturbance of blood supply to a part of the brain. This can be caused by a blood clot in the brain (ischemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke), both resulting in a lack of oxygen and food reaching the brain tissue and causing cell death.

Most stroke survivors suffer from changes in their physical and emotional well-being. These changes can include physical disabilities, trouble with speech and language, pain sensation and feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and depression.  These changes limit stroke survivors’ ability to partake in essential daily activities but also social activities. 

This study evaluated the extent to which stroke survivors were restricted in their social activities caused by changes in physcial and speech disabilty, depression and anxiety. 

A total of 892 stroke survivors, aged <65 years, were included in this study. Reductions/absence in social activities because of their health or functioning was noted for each patient. Patients’ physical and cognitive (mental ability) capacity, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and speech problems were measured.

The study found that 33% of stroke survivors experienced social activity restrictions compared to only 24% of  healthy volunteers. When physical disability was eliminated, they found that there was no difference between stroke survivors and healthy volunteers in attending social activities such as relgious service, clubs/classes, and going out. Therefore, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and speech and language problems independently cause participation restrictons among stroke survivors. 

Stroke survivors experience social restrictions caused by depression, anxiety and speech problems, as well as due to physcial disability. Therefore, future work should aim at improving physical and speech difficulites, and reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in order to enhance participation and improve quality of life of stroke surviviors. 

This study did not interview older adults aged over 65 years or those living in nursing home facilities, thus, these results may only be generalized to communitiy-based adults aged <65 years. Also the study relied on self-reported meaures which may be biased and inaccurate. 

If you or someone you know have had a stroke, talk to a doctor about ways you can minimise social restrictions by improving physical and speech disabilities, as well as depression and anxiety.