The meaning and experience of being a stroke survivor: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the meaning and experience of being a stroke survivor.


METHODS
Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 stroke survivors (five face-to-face and five e-mail interviews). The interview data were transcribed verbatim (these were pre-transcribed in e-mail exchange) and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged from the analysis: Disrupted embodiment and the loss of self; Invisibility of emotional difficulties; Gender, romance and sexuality; and Social interaction. These themes, respectively, revealed that participants often had difficulties with psychological adaptation to the physically disabling aspects of their stroke; they experienced enduring and disabling emotional difficulties; they had a particular concern for the viability and maintenance of romantic and sexual relationships; and they often became socially withdrawn, resulting in an increased pressure on familial caregivers.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present work suggest the need for post-stroke counselling regarding romantic and sexual relationships, as well as promoting acceptance of some of the physical disabilities that come with having a stroke and encouraging positive self-regard. There would also appear to be a need to address the issue of social withdrawal and familial relationships, perhaps when health professionals convey information regarding the person's stroke, and in counselling targeted specifically at family caregivers.
Murray
C D
CD
Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University College, UK. murrayc@hope.ac.uk
Harrison
B
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D012934:Social Isolation; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology