PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF STROKE OUTCOMES IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

The influence of premorbid psychosocial factors on physical function a nd institutionalization 6 weeks after hospital discharge was studied i n elderly stroke patients. The predictor variables of interest were so cial networks, availability of social support, pre-stroke depression ( CES-D), and religiousness. The date were obtained from a prospective l ongitudinal study based on 2,812 noninstitutionalized individuals aged 65 years and older living in New Haven, Connecticut. Incident stroke cases from this study were followed for post-stroke outcomes. Results from 87 survivors indicated that larger social networks were associate d with fewer limitations in physical function, controlling for relevan t health and sociodemographic conditions. Larger networks were also as sociated with a lower risk of institutionalization (p < .05). None of the other psychosocial factors assessed appeared to be related to thes e outcomes.