Apathy and residual neurological impairment are associated with community reintegration after mild stroke

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of apathy and positive social support on community reintegration after stroke. A prospective, correlational, cross-sectional design was used. 85 community dwelling participants with and without aphasia were included (≥ 18 years of age, first stroke, ≥ 6 months post-stroke). The Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL) measured poststroke participation. The Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Positive Social Interaction domain of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey assessed apathy and social support respectively. NIH Stroke Scale measured residual neurological impairment. Apathy, social support, and stroke impairment together were strongly associated with the RNL and accounted for 51% of total variance in the RNL. The AES and NIHSS were independent predictors of the RNL, though positive social interaction failed to reach significance. Persons with and without apathy differed significantly on the RNL. Therefore, stroke rehabilitation should address apathy as a potential target for intervention. Future research should determine factors that mediate the relationship between poststroke apathy and community reintegration.

KEYWORDS:

• stroke
• rehabilitation
• apathy
• social support
• community reintegration

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the members of our lab for providing constructive feedback on this work, particularly Chaitali Dagli, Yejin Lee, Beth Lynch, Ashley Juniper, Cori Ianni, Stephanie Judycki, and Isaiah Jackson.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available by request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.