Psychosocial functioning of spouses of XXXX with @entity64 from initial inpatient rehabilitation to 3 years poststroke: course and relations with coping strategies.

@entity1 @entity64 @entity308
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few studies have focused on long-term changes in the caregiving experience after @entity64 . This study assessed changes in the psychosocial functioning of spouses (burden, @entity308 , harmony in the relationship between @entity1 and spouse, and social relations) during the first 3 years after @entity64 and identified predictors of the course of spouses' psychosocial functioning based on the characteristics of @entity1 and spouses with special emphasis on coping style. METHODS: We examined 211 couples shortly after the @entity1 's admission to a rehabilitation center, 197 2 months after discharge, 187 1 year poststroke, and 121 3 years poststroke. Burden was assessed using the Caregiver Strain Index, @entity308 with the Goldberg Depression Scale, harmony in the relationship with the Interactional Problem Solving Inventory, and social relations with the Social Support List. Multilevel regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A significant effect of time (P<0.01) was found for all 4 aspects of spouses' psychosocial functioning. Although burden decreased, harmony in the relationship and social relations also decreased. The @entity308 score showed a nonlinear pattern with an initial decrease but a long-term increase. All outcomes were significantly related to caregiver coping strategies. A total of 15% to 27% of the variance in psychosocial functioning could be explained. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up of spouses of @entity1 with @entity64 requires not only assessment of burden, but also other aspects of psychosocial functioning like harmony in the relationship, @entity308 , and social relations, because our results show negative long-term consequences of @entity64 for these aspects of caregiver quality of life.
