title: The relationship between stroke survivors' perceived identity and mood, self-esteem and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine change in identity after stroke and to elucidate its relationship with mood and quality of life. To test Higgins' theory of the impact of identity (self-discrepancy) on anxiety and depression. To examine the role of self-esteem in mediating the relationship between identity and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five community-living first-time stroke survivors, mean age 61.58 and time since stroke 5.60 years, were recruited from stroke charities. A cross-sectional study used the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (adapted) and the Barthel Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identity was rated more negatively after stroke than before (t(64) = 6.46, p < .00). Greater discrepancy in identity was associated with anxiety (r = .38, p < .00), depression (r = .59, p < .00), self-esteem (r = -.48, p < .00) and quality of life (r = -.54, p < .00). Overall positivity of identity after stroke predicted outcomes even better than discrepancy. The association between discrepancy and mood and quality of life was mediated by self-esteem (β = .30, p < .01; β = -.24, p < .01, respectively). Specific types of discrepancy defined by Higgins did not show differential relationships with anxiety and depression as predicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identity changes after stroke and identity and self-esteem are associated with important outcomes for stroke survivors.
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology , Cardiff University , Cardiff , UK.|b Cardiff and Vale University Health Board , Cardiff , UK.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lapadatu
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology , Cardiff University , Cardiff , UK.|b Cardiff and Vale University Health Board , Cardiff , UK.
authors.forename: Reg
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Stroke; identity; mood; quality of life; self-esteem