Life satisfaction of couples 3 years after stroke

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the life satisfaction of stroke patients to that of their spouses, and to examine spouses’ variables as determinants of the patients’ life satisfaction. Method: Patients with a first-ever stroke who were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation centre and their spouses were included (n = 78 couples). Measurements took place 3 years after the stroke. Life satisfaction was measured using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-9). Results: More spouses (50%) than patients (28%) were dissatisfied with their life as a whole. Spouses were also more likely to be dissatisfied with all other domains of life satisfaction than patients. The associations between the life satisfaction of patients and of spouses were weak (Cramer’s V 0.00–0.43). In the backward linear regression analysis both patients’ participation in social activities and spouses’ life satisfaction were significantly related to patients’ life satisfaction. A total of 17.8% of the variance of patients’ life satisfaction could be explained by the model. Conclusions: Both spouse and patient in a couple experience decreased life satisfaction in the chronic phase after stroke, spouses even more so than patients. The life satisfaction of stroke patients was significantly related to spouses’ life satisfaction. Family-centred care should be an important part of the rehabilitation process.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Both spouse and patient in a couple experience decreased life satisfaction in the chronic phase after stroke.

• The life satisfaction of stroke patients was significantly related to spouses’ life satisfaction.

• Family-centred care, in which the spouse is closely involved, should be an important part of the rehabilitation process.

Keywords::

• Cerebrovascular accident
• stroke
• spouse
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

The project was undertaken as part of the “Functional Prognostication and Disability Study on Neurological Disorders”, supervised by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the VU Medical Center, Amsterdam. We would like to thank the participating patients and rehabilitation centers: Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat, Utrecht; Rehabilitation Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam; Heliomare, Wijk aan Zee; and Blixembosch, Eindhoven.

Declaration of Interest: The project was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (grant: 1435.0001 and 96-06-002).