Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate life satisfaction in spouses of middle-aged stroke
survivors from the long-term perspective and to identify factors that explain
their life satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, case-control study. SUBJECTS:
Cohabitant spouses of survivors of ischaemic stroke aged < 70 years at stroke
onset (n = 248) and spouses
of controls (n = 246). METHODS: Assessments were made
7 years after inclusion to the study. Spouses' life satisfaction was assessed
with the Fugl-Meyer's Life Satisfaction Check-List
(LiSAT 11). Stroke-related
factors were examined with the National Institutes of Health stroke scale,
Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS:
Spouses of stroke survivors had significantly lower satisfaction with general
life, leisure, sexual life, partner relationship, family life, and poorer somatic
and psychological health than spouses of controls. Caregiving spouses had
significantly lower scores on all life domains except vocation and own activities
of daily living than non-caregiving spouses. Spouses' satisfaction on different
life domains was explained mainly by their age, sex, support given to the
partner, and the survivor's level of global disability, to which both physical
and cognitive impairments contributed. CONCLUSION: Seven years after stroke,
spouses of stroke survivors reported lower life satisfaction compared with
spouses of controls. Life satisfaction in stroke survivors' spouses was
associated with spouses' age, sex, giving support, and the stroke survivors'
level of global disability.

Langue : ANGLAIS