Overprotection in couples with aphasia

Purpose: The study aimed to measure the perception of overprotection in 21 couples living with aphasia, relative to controls. Method: The Questionnaire on Resources and Stress' assessed the spouses' pe rception and the Overprotection Scale for Adults' measured the perception o f persons with aphasia. Results: Husbands of women with aphasia did not differ from husbands of wom en without aphasia. Wives of men with aphasia reported more overprotection than wives of men without aphasia, even when functional impairment was cont rolled. The men with aphasia did nut report feeling overprotected. No signi ficant relationship was uncovered between the report of overprotection and feeling overprotected in couples with aphasia. Conclusions: Overprotection is present in some couples coping with aphasia.