title: Associations between social support and stroke survivors' health-related quality of life--a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social support to stroke survivors has been recognized as an important determinant of their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but this relationship is not clarified to date. More insight in the relationships between various types (i.e. emotional, instrumental, or informational support) and sources (i.e. partner, children) of social support and HRQoL might target post-stroke educational and counseling interventions to strengthen patient's social networks and supportive relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  11 original articles could be included. Most of these articles studied the overall perceived social support without further specification of type or source. They show a positive relation between perceived social support and stroke survivors' HRQoL. Relations between perceived social support and HRQoL seems to be more often significant and were stronger than relationships between specific social support types or sources and HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the small number of studies and the heterogeneity in methods of assessing social support, a clear statement about the specific influence of social support source or type could not be made.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention should be paid to promoting social support on the short and long term. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of social support type and source.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willeke J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kruithof
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Mierlo
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Visser-Meily
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Heugten
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Quality of life; Review; Social support; Stroke