Social Readjustment and Relating Factors in Stroke Survivors

Cho, Nam Ok; Suh, Moon Ja; Kim, Keum Soon; Kim, In Ja; Choi, Hee Jung; Jung, Sung Hee

Abstract

Social readjustment is very important in rehabilitation of stroke survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of social readjustment and related factors in stroke survivors. Especially, to find the most useful predictor for social readjustment is a major point of this research. The study included 254 outpatients who were given follow-up care after discharge from. Occupational rehabilitation and resumption of the perceived meaningful social activity prios to the stroke were used to measure social readjustment. The resumptions of first meaningful social activity was the best predictor for life satisfaction in stroke survivors(r=.245, p<.01). The substance of perceived meaningful social activities were job, meeting with friends, hobby and activities for the family. The sum of meaningful social activities (r=.175, p<.01) and occupational rehabilitation (r=.116, p<.05) were significantly related to life satisfaction. There were significant difference in IADL, depression and life satisfaction according to resumption of meaningful social activity. But, occupational rehabilitation was not related to depression. The level of social readjustment was different between occupational rehabilitation and resumption of meaningful social activity. It was 45.7% in the first meaningful social activity and 36.6% in occupational rehabilitation. The related factors with resumption of the first meaningful social activity were that of IADL, depression, illness intrusiveness and cognitive function. And the level of IADL, illness intrusiveness, cognitive function, and age were significantly related to occupational rehabilitation. In conclusion, we suggest that the resumption of the first meaningful activity in stroke survivors is the best predictor of social rehabilitation. Thus, nurses need to work for resumption of meaningful activity as well as occupational rehabilitation.