Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the processes through which stroke survivors develop learned nonuse of their affected upper limbs. Design:A qualitative study design based on the Modified Grounded Theory Approach was used. Methods:Semi-structured interviews were carried out with stroke survivors who had strokes in middle age or late middle age and developed learned nonuse of their affected upper limbs. Results:8 stroke survivors were interviewed in this study, and analysis resulted in the emergence of 20 concepts, 4 subcategories, and 4 categories. Conclusion:The middle age and late middle age stroke survivors developed learned nonuse of their affected upper limbs under the influence of social interaction, and they repeatedly compared their current condition to before the onset, and they recovered through taking on the same roles as before the onset.
