Background/Aims: Approximately a quarter of Australian stroke survivors are aged 18 to 65. Although psychosocial challenges are common in this group, benefit finding may prompt adaptive adjustment after stroke and result in improved quality of life. Evidence suggests that benefit finding is influenced by intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, including personality, social support, and resilient coping; however, these relationships have not been investigated among younger stroke survivors. This study aimed to examine the relationships among these factors, benefit finding, and quality of life in a cohort of younger stroke survivors.
Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. An online survey collected demographic and stroke-related information, alongside information about personality, social support, coping, benefit finding, and quality of life. In-depth interviews captured participants’ perceptions and experiences of benefit finding. Bivariate analyses examined relationships among study variables, and reflexive thematic analysis was used for interview data.
Results: Quantitative data regarding 58 participants and qualitative interview data regarding 17 participants were analysed. Extraversion (r =.22, p=.019) and resilient coping (r =.30, p<.010) were positively correlated with benefit finding, while social support was negatively correlated (r = ─.21, p=.032). No significant association was observed between benefit finding and quality of life. Qualitatively, participants described social support and a strong sense of agency as important influences on benefit finding.
Conclusion: This study offers preliminary insights into how intrapersonal and interpersonal factors relate to benefit finding among younger stroke survivors and identifies the need for larger and longitudinal studies to investigate its clinical value.