Coping and marital equilibrium after stroke.

This study explored the effects of a cerebrovascular accident on seven older couples. The long interview method was used to identify major themes in seven couples' accounts of their post-stroke effects. Four major themes emerged which included experiencing physical changes, feeling down and worrying about the future, being restricted and adjusting to limits and seeking a new balance in the marriage. Stroke survivors and spouses differed in how they described the impact of the stroke for older couples. Support groups and family counseling may be used to facilitate couple adaptation after stroke. Longitudinal research is needed to explore adaptive coping post-stroke in both stroke survivors and stroke spouses.