title: Course of social support and relationships between social support and patients' depressive symptoms in the first 3 years post-stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the course of social support (everyday support, support in problem situations and esteem support) from initial inpatient rehabilitation until 3 years post-stroke and to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of social support with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 249 stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Perceived social support was assessed with the Social Support List-Interaction. Pearson correlations and multilevel analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than one-third of participants had depressive symptoms. Social support and its 3 subtypes declined significantly over time. Divergent relationships were found between subtypes of social support and depressive symptoms. Everyday support and esteem support had negative associations with depressive symptoms, whereas support in problem situations had a positive association. Social support in problem situations was a predictor of depressive symptoms over time. No effect-modification by participants with physical or cognitive limitations was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke survivors experience a decline in social support over time. Various subtypes of support show distinct relationships with depressive symptoms. Healthcare professionals should focus on the various subtypes of support when supporting patients to improve and maintain an adequate social support network.
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willeke J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kruithof
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Christel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Vera P M
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Schepers
authors.forename: Geertrudis A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van den Bos
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Visser-Meily
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*