Social Support Network and Gender Difference in Post-hospitalized Stroke Patients

Cho, Nam Ok; Suh, Moon Ja; Kim, Keum Soon; Hong, Yeo Shin; Kim, In Ja

Abstract

Social support was found to have buffering effects on the stress response of stroke patients. Especially, the aspects of social support found to be most influential were support from a close, personal source, and overall satisfaction with support. The purpose of this study was to identify the current social network and its characteristics according to gender difference in post-hospitalized stroke patients in Korea. The sample consisted of a convenience sample of 254 patients was recruited 129 men and 125 women who were receiving follow-up care at outpatients clinics. Four aspects of social support-source, quantity, quality & type-were measured using the modified Social Support Inventory for Stroke Survivors(SSISS) which was developed by McColl & Friedland(1989). Regarding sources of social support, 61.4% reported for 'spouse' as primary caregiver and 31.9%, 'children'. But the distribution of sources of personal support were related to gender; 82.2% of male patients had support from their spouses, while only 40% of female patients reported from 'spouse' but 51.4% from 'children'. Among the children, daughters and sons were more significant support persons than daughters-in-law. The percentages for sources of these significant other support persons were 55.5% for 'children', 8.7% for 'spouse', and 8.3% for 'brothers'. The physician at the outpatient department was the main source of professional support. For the quantity and quality of social support, the primary caregiver's support was more significant than support by significant other persons. Male patients reported that primary the caregiver' support was greater than that of significant other persons, while female patients perceived significant other persons as giving greater support. Regarding the type of perceived social support, the stroke patients were highly satisfied with the primary caregiver's support in aspects of instrumental, emotional, and informational support. They also reported high satisfaction with support from significant others' support in the aspect of emotional support, while emotional and informational support from professionals was reported as satisfactory. In conclusion, gender difference in the social support network was found in that male patients perceived more support from their spouses, while female patients perceived more support from their children as compared to their spouses.