title: Fighting back--struggling to continue life and preserve the self following a stroke.
abstract: The aim of this longitudinal phenomenological study was to explore how female stroke survivors experienced their life following a stroke and how they managed their altered situation. Twenty-five women suffering first-time stroke were interviewed in depth three times during the first one and a half years after the stroke. Applying the method of Giorgi, we found that there was a lengthy struggle to continue life and preserve the self following the stroke. The struggle was closely related to their deeply rooted identity as mothers, wives, grandmothers, and housewives. The situation of women following a stroke needs particular attention because their needs may conflict with their female caring roles. On the other hand, supporting them in transforming these roles may secure their sense of self and a continued meaningful life.
authors.affiliation: Hedmark College, Faculty of Social Work, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway. kari.kvigne@hse.hihm.no
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvigne
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirkevold
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gjengedal
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*