“When life throws you a curve ball”: A longitudinal couple dyad experience of adjustment of occupations following mild stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Approximately 60-70% of all stroke incidents are categorised as mild. Although individuals with mild stroke manage most basic occupations independently, the consequences of mild stroke are multifaceted and might impact both the person with mild stroke and their partner’s lives, as well as the dynamics of the couples’ relationship and occupations. Purpose: To gain insight into the experience of the adjustment of occupations in couple dyads following mild stroke up to 1 year after the stroke. Methods: The study employed a qualitative longitudinal approach using ethnographically inspired fieldwork and joint interviews; a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach was used to interpret the data. Findings: One main theme, When life throws you a curve ball, and three interrelated subthemes, Feeling relieved yet concerned, Modification of shared and individual occupations, and New shared everyday life priorities were identified. Conclusion: Both persons in the dyad experienced a modification of shared and individual occupations. The couples were more engaged in co-occupations than before, and often these co-occupations were adjusted to accommodate the needs of the person with stroke. It is suggested that, in some cases, a mild stroke event can lead to a disruption and reconstruction of occupational identities for both individuals in the couple dyad.