Changes to Body Image and Self-esteem following Stroke in Young Adults

This study explored the effects of a first stroke on body image and self-esteem in a population of previously neurologically intact young adults. Forty participants with a mean age of 36.7 years, recorded retrospective and current ratings of self-concept. Body image was measured using the Body Cathexis Scale of Secord and Jourard, and self-esteem was measured using Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and the physical and personal self-esteem items on the Tennessee Self-concept Scale: 2. The results of the study indicate that self-reported body image was significantly negatively affected following stroke in young adults, and was associated with significant reductions in all measures of self-esteem. This effect was stronger following left hemisphere lesions. Interestingly, before the stroke, only physical self-esteem and body image were correlated, however, after the stroke, all measures of self-esteem correlated with evaluations of body image. This indicates that the effect of body image on self-esteem has become generalised following the stroke contributing to feelings of poor self-worth and possibly culminating in depressive mentation. The finding that body image is a reliable predictor of both physical and global self-esteem indicate that rehabilitative emphasis on these factors in a timely manner should be incorporated into rehabilitative intervention programmes.