The meaning of loneliness to stroke survivors: A qualitative study in Northeast England

Yang, Keming; Armstrong, Nicole; Diamond, Clare; Lane, Alison R; Dunne, Stephen

Abstract

This study explored stroke survivors’ experiences of loneliness. Drawing on interviews with 29 community dwelling stroke survivors living in the Northeast of England, we found several themes: loneliness as being alone, the season or time, lack of understanding from those without any experience of stroke, reduced autonomy, and deterioration of social relations. It is important that healthcare professionals pay attention to the aspects of life that may increase the chances of a stroke survivor becoming lonely after being discharged from hospital, and to measure loneliness in stroke survivors a more valid scale should include items that touch on the aspects reported here.

Citation

Yang, K., Armstrong, N., Diamond, C., Lane, A. R., & Dunne, S. (2022). The meaning of loneliness to stroke survivors: A qualitative study in Northeast England. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(11), 2539-2548. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211017198

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 12, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 25, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Health Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1359-1053
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7277
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 2539-2548
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211017198