TY - JOUR
T1 - Female family carers for survivors of stroke
T2 - Occupational loss and quality of life
AU - Kniepmann, Kathy
PY - 2012/5/1
Y1 - 2012/5/1
N2 - Pupose: This study examined activity changes in female carers for working-age husbands with mild to moderate stroke. It explored whether carers who reduced or quitted some of their valued activities had more burden and decreased health compared with other carers who continued their valued activities. Method: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative self-report study. The Activity Card Sort measured reduction or termination of valued activities as a potential indicator of secondary strains, such as role captivity, constricted social life and loss of self. Outcomes were health-related quality of life and burden. Findings: Eleven of the 20 participants reduced or quitted some of their valued activities. This change was labelled 'occupational loss'. Several statistically significant differences were found: carers with occupational loss reported more primary stressors, higher levels of burden, less vitality and lower general mental health. No difference between groups was found for physical health. Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that occupational loss may be related to deleterious outcomes for family carers. Further investigation with a larger sample and longitudinal design could explore the nature of that relationship to guide occupational therapy with this population.
AB - Pupose: This study examined activity changes in female carers for working-age husbands with mild to moderate stroke. It explored whether carers who reduced or quitted some of their valued activities had more burden and decreased health compared with other carers who continued their valued activities. Method: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative self-report study. The Activity Card Sort measured reduction or termination of valued activities as a potential indicator of secondary strains, such as role captivity, constricted social life and loss of self. Outcomes were health-related quality of life and burden. Findings: Eleven of the 20 participants reduced or quitted some of their valued activities. This change was labelled 'occupational loss'. Several statistically significant differences were found: carers with occupational loss reported more primary stressors, higher levels of burden, less vitality and lower general mental health. No difference between groups was found for physical health. Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that occupational loss may be related to deleterious outcomes for family carers. Further investigation with a larger sample and longitudinal design could explore the nature of that relationship to guide occupational therapy with this population.
KW - Family caregivers
KW - Occupational therapy
KW - Quality of life
KW - Social participation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863095433&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4276/030802212X13361458480207
DO - 10.4276/030802212X13361458480207
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84863095433
VL - 75
SP - 208
EP - 216
JO - British Journal of Occupational Therapy
JF - British Journal of Occupational Therapy
SN - 0308-0226
IS - 5
ER -