Wives’ Reported Role Changes Following a Husband's Stroke: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study was to look at changes in the roles of wives when their spouses became disabled due to a stroke. Data collection tools included Buxbaum's Marital Role Questionnaire, which was administered first in the rehabilitation hospital and again at home 2 weeks after the spouses' discharge. Ten subjects participated in this study. Results suggest that (a) wives' responsibilities increased significantly after the husband's stroke, (b) wives' satisfaction with household responsibilities decreased significantly after the husband's stroke, and (c) wives' degree of marital unhappiness increased significantly after the husband's stroke. The hypothesis that wives' social activities decreased significantly after a husband's stroke was not supported. The study showed the need for healthcare professionals to assess wives whose husbands had strokes and to evaluate their ability to perform such basic family roles as economic provider, homemaker, and financial manager.