From the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo
(T.B.W., K.L.); National Institute of Public Health, Community Medicine
Research Unit, Verdal (J.H.); and the Section for Medical Statistics,
University of Oslo (P.L.), Oslo, Norway.
Correspondence to Dr Torgeir Bruun Wyller, Nordstrandveien 9, N-1170 Oslo, Norway. E-mail t.b.wyller{at}ioks.uio.no
Background and Purpose—Data on
survival and functioning after stroke needs to be supplemented by
measures emphasizing the patients' subjective perception. We studied
(1) subjective well-being (SWB) as a latent variable in a
common-factor model with four items, (2) the reliability of these four
items, and (3) variables related to SWB in stroke
patients.
Methods—Data on all stroke patients (n=1417) and a random
subsample of stroke-free individuals of similar age (n=1439) were
collected from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey, a cross-sectional
study of 74 977 persons. Based on a two-sample factor analysis
model, scores of SWB were calculated, and variables explaining SWB
were studied in a regression model.
Results—Four items were a priori believed to measure SWB as
a latent variable ("satisfaction," "strength,"
"calmness," and "cheerfulness"). This was confirmed by factor
analysis. The reliability of these items (the proportion of the
variance of the items that can be explained by the common factor) was
between .42 and .53. Regression analyses showed a significant
effect of having had a stroke, gender (lower SWB in men), age
(increasing SWB with increasing age), perceived general health,
nervousness, loneliness, sleep problems, social support, and use of
analgesics. There was no statistical interaction between these
variables and having had a stroke.
Conclusions—Higher SWB after stroke relates to female gender,
older age, good general and mental health, and a firm social network.
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions
Correlates of Subjective Well-being in Stroke Patients
Key Words: attitude to health • quality of life • stroke • social support
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