ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of stress and depression, the relationship of stress and depression with activities of daily living(ADL), and the factors that affect stress and depression in stroke patients.A questionnaire survey was carried out from April 8, 1995 to May 2, 1995 in 9 university hospitals.The number of stroke patient participating in this study was 112. Analysis of the data was done by means of t-test, ANOVA, and enter multiple regression.The results were as follows :1. The highest stress level of stroke patients was felt as interpersonal stress.2. The physical depression level of stroke patients was higher than non-physical depression level.3. The stress level of stroke patients was significantly different depending on sex, education level, present occupation, role as family income earner, illness duration, and post-discharge attendance at social gatherings, hobby and recration(P<0.05).4. The depression level of stroke patients was also significantly different depending on sex, education level, present occupation, hospital fee resources, role as family incomeearner, and post-discharge attendance at social gatherings, hobby and recreation(P<0.05).5. The stress level of stroke patients was positively related to the level of depression, and the levels of stress and depression were inversely related to the level of ADL(P<0.001).6. In stroke patients, the level of ADL was the most predictive variable for stress, and accounted for 31. 96% of the variance.7. I n stroke patients, the level of ADL and present occupation were predictive variables for depression, and accounted for 26. 86% of the variance. The results of this study showed that ADL was the most predictive variable for depression and stress in stroke patients. To reduce stress and depression in stroke patients, improvement in ADL is necessary through systematic and scientific training.