Gender differences in factors influencing post-stroke community integration: Cross sectional, correlational study.

OBJECTIVES: Lack of community integration is an inevitable issue among stroke survivors and can significantly affect quality of life in this population. The role of gender in levels of community integration and in an associated factor was observed, suggesting potential gender differences in factors associated with community integration among stroke survivors. However, limited research has been conducted on gender differences and factors associated with community integration after a stroke. This study aimed to identify gender differences in factors associated with the community integration of stroke survivors.

METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational study involved 316 stroke survivors who visited the outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Data on community integration, demographic and clinical characteristics, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, stroke severity, depression, self-esteem, disability acceptance, rehabilitation motivation, and social support were collected.

RESULTS: The sample included 215 men and 101 women stroke survivors. The mean age of the participants was 64.44±10.73 years. For men, instrumental activities of daily living and employment status showed significant associations with community integration, accounting for 30 % of the variance. For women, education, employment status, instrumental activities of daily living, self-esteem, and social support showed significant associations with community integration, explaining 58.6 % of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS: For men and women stroke survivors, there is a need to focus on functional rehabilitation, which can strengthen instrumental activities of daily living, and in turn, enhance effective community integration. In addition, for women stroke survivors, healthcare providers also need to provide interventions that can strengthen self-esteem and social support.