Life interrupted and life regained? Coping with stroke at a young age.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability across the developed world, affecting an increasing number of younger people. In this article, we seek to understand the experience of stroke as a disabling life situation among young people and the strategies that they use to recover and cope. Directed content analysis was conducted from interviews with 17 community-dwelling stroke survivors aged 55 years and younger across the United Kingdom. The sample was drawn from a larger maximum variation sample of stroke survivors. Using the sociological concepts of biographical disruption and biographical repair as a guide, excerpts from the interviews pertaining to aspects of the patients' life that were interrupted, in addition to how they coped with the changes, were selected and analysed. All individuals described an "altered sense of self," a theme that included loss of identity, family disruption, and/or loss of valued activities. Individuals sought to adapt their sense of self by seeking external support, by restoring normality, and/or through positive reflection. Despite the adapted self that emerged, most individuals continued to experience impairments. While young stroke survivors adapt to their illness over time, they continue to experience impairments and disruptions in their personal and work lives. A holistic model of rehabilitation that helps individuals regain the capacity for everyday activities related to work, family life, and leisure can begin to address the emotional ramifications of diseases such as stroke, restore wellness, and work towards minimizing the burden felt by family caregivers and children.
Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; KKuluski@bridgepointhealth.ca.
Kerry
K
Kuluski
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Clare
C
Dow
Health Experiences Research Group, Department of Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, The Joint Research Office, The Churchill Hospital, Headington, UK; Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Louise
L
Locock
Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Renee F
RF
Lyons
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Daniel
D
Lasserson
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
Stroke; coping; patient experience; qualitative; young