Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The experience of couples when one partner has a stroke at a young age
T2 - an interpretative phenomenological analysis
AU - Quinn, Karen
AU - Murray, Craig
AU - Malone, Caroline
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Purpose: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide and affects a significant number of working age adults each year. The consequences of stroke impact upon both young stroke survivors and their partners and this study aimed to qualitatively explore their joint experience. Methods: Eight joint semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using IPA. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) “How’s this happened?” – Making sense of the stroke; (2) “Is this what life is going to be like now?” – From partners to carer and “cared for”; (3) “I lost being a man. I was a little boy, being looked after all the time” – From partners to parent and child. Conclusions: Stroke at a young age can significantly disrupt couples’ life biographies. The findings highlight the need for both partners to adapt to their reciprocal relationship role changes and the importance of addressing the couple as a focus for intervention.Implications for RehabilitationStroke at a young age is an abrupt event that impacts upon both partners in a relationship.The findings add insight to some of the issues faced by young stroke survivors and their partners, which can now be considered in tailoring treatment to this specific cohort within the context of services predominated by older adults.The findings highlight significant relationship role changes experienced within couples, which suggests a need for rehabilitation interventions to focus on the adjustment of both partners.
AB - Purpose: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide and affects a significant number of working age adults each year. The consequences of stroke impact upon both young stroke survivors and their partners and this study aimed to qualitatively explore their joint experience. Methods: Eight joint semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using IPA. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) “How’s this happened?” – Making sense of the stroke; (2) “Is this what life is going to be like now?” – From partners to carer and “cared for”; (3) “I lost being a man. I was a little boy, being looked after all the time” – From partners to parent and child. Conclusions: Stroke at a young age can significantly disrupt couples’ life biographies. The findings highlight the need for both partners to adapt to their reciprocal relationship role changes and the importance of addressing the couple as a focus for intervention.Implications for RehabilitationStroke at a young age is an abrupt event that impacts upon both partners in a relationship.The findings add insight to some of the issues faced by young stroke survivors and their partners, which can now be considered in tailoring treatment to this specific cohort within the context of services predominated by older adults.The findings highlight significant relationship role changes experienced within couples, which suggests a need for rehabilitation interventions to focus on the adjustment of both partners.
KW - Partners
KW - relationships
KW - stroke
KW - survivors
U2 - 10.3109/09638288.2013.866699
DO - 10.3109/09638288.2013.866699
M3 - Journal article
VL - 36
SP - 1670
EP - 1678
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
SN - 0963-8288
IS - 20
ER -