Advisor(s)
Olivio Clay
Committee Member(s)
Amy Knight
Burel Goodin
Michael Crowe
Suzanne Judd
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
6-3-2025
Abstract
Physical and cognitive disabilities are common following a stroke, often leading to significant changes in survivors' daily lives and increasing dependency on caregivers. These changes can include involuntary retirement, loss of independence, and decreased social engagement, which may necessitate adjustments in living arrangements and long-term care. This dissertation investigates the predictors of cognitive outcomes in stroke survivors, with a particular focus on the roles of stroke severity and caregiver factors. Utilizing data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) project, this research captures the different predictors of post-stroke cognition through biennial assessments. Through longitudinal studies, this dissertation aims to improve the prediction of cognitive and functional outcomes, thereby facilitating more effective strategies for clinicians and families as well as resource allocation within healthcare systems. This manuscript comprises three interconnected papers that emphasize the role that caregivers of stroke play in predicting the recovery of cognitive outcomes. The first analyzes the predictive power of three stroke severity measures on cognitive outcomes, incorporating both clinical assessments and caregiver reports. The second paper examines the influence of caregiver psychosocial factors on the cognition of stroke survivors, including their interaction in the relationship with stroke severity. The third paper focuses on the social determinants of health (SDoH) reported by the stroke survivors and their caregivers, analyzing their predictive validity on stroke survivor cognition through an exploratory factor analysis to generate factors scores that were used as predictors in a multiple linear regression model. Methodologically, each paper employs regression models to assess cognitive outcomes, adjusting for demographic and baseline cognition. This approach allows for a detailed examination of how these factors predict the post-stroke recovery period up to six years after stroke. The manuscripts included in this dissertation provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between stroke severity, caregiver dynamics, and cognitive outcomes, offering implications for both clinical practice and policymaking aimed at supporting both stroke survivors and their caregivers.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Blake, Jason Alexander, "Stroke Survivors: Predicting Cognitive Outcomes By Stroke Severity, Caregiver Factors, & Social Determinants Of Health" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7248.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7248
