Social Support from the Familiesof Female Stroke Survivors in Turkey

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the social support from the families perceived by women after stroke. Material and Method: The data were collected from 36 women with stroke using the Perceived Social Support Scale and a questionnaire determining the socio-demographic characteristics. For the analysis of data, percentages, t-test for independent samples, and one way ANOVA were used. Results: Total score of perceived social support from family was found to be low. As the time from stroke got longer, the level of perceived social support from family decreased, while the difference was not significant. Marital status has also affected the perceived social support from family. There were no statistically significant differences were found in terms of women’s education, occupation, co-morbid illness, gender of the caregiver, whether the caregiver is from the family, caregiver’s marital status, education and employment status. Discussion: In conclusion, it was founded that the benefit of the women after a stroke with regard to social support was not at the desired level. In this respect, in addition to the physical rehabilitation after stroke, psychosocial rehabilitation programs for the individual and the family can be designed