The influence of social support and perceived control on handicap and quality of life after stroke

It has been suggested that external factors, such as perceived control of life and social support, influence the interactions of impairment, disability and handicap in the WHO model. Therefore, we assessed the effect of these two factors on the relationships between disability, handicap and quality of life in patients recovering from stroke. One hundred individuals, retrospectively and randomly selected from participants in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program, were tested one year after discharge, using the Functional Independence Measure, the London Handicap Scale, the Life Satisfaction Assessment, the Tel-Aviv Social Support Instrument, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Impairment, disability, handicap and quality of life after stroke correlated positively and significantly with each other. Significant moderation of the influence that disability exerts on handicap was affected by perception of control, and by the influence of handicap over quality of life by social support. Thus, external factors can cause inconsistent interactions between components of the WHO model. Patient outcome may be improved if such factors are considered.