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. 2023 Feb;15(1):172-192.
doi: 10.1111/aphw.12348. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

Shared social identity and perceived social support among stroke groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationship with psychosocial health

Ruth A Lamont  1 , Raff Calitri  1 , Luke T A Mounce  1 , Laura Hollands  1 , Sarah G Dean  1 , Chris Code  2 , Amy Sanders  1 , Mark Tarrant  1
Affiliations

Shared social identity and perceived social support among stroke groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationship with psychosocial health

Ruth A Lamont et al. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Community-based peer support groups for stroke survivors are common in the United Kingdom and aim to support rehabilitation. This study of 260 stroke survivors across 118 groups nationally used an online survey format, completed on average 3 months into the pandemic. Analysis of both quantitative and open-ended responses provided insights into how stroke group members maintained contact during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the group processes of shared social identity and perceived social support related to psychosocial outcomes (self-esteem, well-being and loneliness). Group members adapted to the pandemic early through telephone calls (61.6% of participants) and internet-based contact (>70% of participants), although also showed a desire for greater contact with their groups. A stronger sense of shared social identity and perceptions of social support from the stroke groups were weakly associated with reductions in loneliness among members, and greater perceived social support was associated with higher self-esteem. However, having poor health and living alone were more strongly associated with more negative psychosocial outcomes. The discussion considers how barriers to contact during pandemics can be managed, including access and use of online communication, limitations imposed by stroke-related disability, and how the experience of feeling supported and social identification can be better nurtured within remote contexts.

Keywords: group support; loneliness; self-esteem; social identity; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors report the Stroke Association funding for the work under consideration but no other conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Type and frequency of contact with stroke groups (percentage of respondents). *Not including ‘not at all’
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Qualitative extracts
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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