Life satisfaction in spouses of patients with stroke during the first year after stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate whether spouses' life satisfaction changed between their life prior to their partner's stroke, and at 4 months and 1 year after stroke, and to study the association between spouses' life satisfaction and objective characteristics of the stroke patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutively enrolled spouses to first-ever stroke patients < 75 years of age participated. Life satisfaction was measured with the Life Satisfaction Checklist (LiSat-9). RESULTS: Compared with their life before stroke, the spouses' satisfaction with life as a whole, their leisure situation, daily occupation, sexual life, partner relationship and social contacts was lower 4 months after stroke. No significant change in life satisfaction was observed between 4 months and 1 year. Spouses of patients with sensorimotor impairment and low ability in self-care were less satisfied with their leisure situation, daily occupations, own ability in self-care, sexual life and partner relationship. Spouses of patients with cognitive or astheno-emotional impairments were less satisfied with their partner relationship, family life and sexual life. The associations were stronger at 1 year than at 4 months. CONCLUSION: There is a need for support over a long time period that focuses on the social, occupational and leisure situation of spouses as well as that of patients.