Rising from adversity: exploring the sources of resilience of first-time stroke survivors and their caregivers through a socio-ecological perspective

• Main Author: We, Jia Ning
• Other Authors: Ho Hau Yan Andy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168296
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background: Stroke inflicts various impairments and difficulties on stroke survivors. Family caregivers are also adversely affected in their role as a caregiver. However, research in the Asian Context on the sources of resilience for both stroke survivors and family caregivers are sparse. Hence, this study aimed to explore the sources of resilience for first-time stroke survivors and their family caregivers at the initial stage of stroke. Methods: This study adopted an ontological idealism stance and an epistemological constructionism stance. Qualitative data were drawn from four 60 to 90-minute semi-structured interviews conducted with four dyads within 3-months post-discharge. The mean ages of stroke survivors and family caregivers were 56 years old and 49 years old respectively. Results: Using a thematic analysis approach, three themes and 12 subthemes formed the Post-Stroke Advancement to Resilience Model. The source of resilience for stroke survivors and family caregivers comes from intrapersonal factors (Theme 1: Individual Sources), their immediate environment (Theme 2: External Sources from Microsystem) and from other sources of support that emerged from the interactive processes present in their immediate environment (Theme 3: External Sources from Mesosystem). Discussion: While stroke may land stroke survivors and family caregivers in a limiting situation, they can utilise personal, interpersonal, and external resources to adjust and navigate through their new life challenges. Practical implications of the finding are also discussed. Keywords: stroke, stroke survivors, family caregivers, resilience, recovery, rehabilitation, Singapore