Social participation of male stroke survivors after discharge from a recovery rehabilitation ward while coming to terms with the image of the "ideal self"

Abstract

【Background】Cerebrovascular disease is the most common target disease in occupational therapy practice among physical disabilities in Japan. However, it has been pointed out that stroke survivors living in the community in Japan have few opportunities for social participation, and that elderly males have less social interaction than elderly females, indicating greater challenges in social participation for male stroke survivors. Therefore, this study clarifies the subjective experience of how male stroke survivors experience social participation. 【Method】This study used the Trajectory Equifinality Approach (TEA), a qualitative research method developed in the field of cultural psychology, which is capable of depicting the process of human development and emergence. 【Results】The three participants continued to experience social participation without interruption during their hospitalization, and they talked about the process of choosing social participation acts that could embody their values based on these values and images of "who they want to be" in the face of various changes caused by the onset of stroke. 【Conclusion】The study suggests that in order to promote social participation of male stroke survivors, it is important to understand their values and support their future vision based on said values.