Research Article: Mechanisms underlying the association between perceived recurrence risk and negative emotions in patients with ischemic stroke: a cross-sectional study
Abstract:
To examine the relationships among perceived risk of recurrence, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, negative emotions, and family care in patients with ischemic stroke, and to test a moderated mediation model. The findings aim to provide a scientific basis for optimizing clinical psychological interventions and family support strategies.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 311 patients with ischemic stroke recruited from three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Data were collected using validated scales measuring perceived recurrence risk, help-seeking attitudes, negative emotions, and family care. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 58), with 5, 000 bootstrap resamples to estimate 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Perceived recurrence risk was positively associated with negative emotions ( ? = 0.350, p < 0.001 ). Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help partially mediated this association, with a significant indirect effect ( effect = 0.131, 95% CI: 0.082–0.192 ), accounting for 40.68% of the total effect. Family care moderated both paths of the mediation model. In the first stage, family care moderated the association between perceived recurrence risk and help-seeking attitudes ( ? = 0.043, p = 0.001 ), such that higher family care weakened the negative association. In the second stage, family care moderated the association between help-seeking attitudes and negative emotions ( ? = ?0.075, p = 0.008 ), indicating that higher family care strengthened the protective association between help-seeking attitudes and lower negative emotions.
Perceived recurrence risk, help-seeking attitudes, and negative emotions are significantly associated in patients with ischemic stroke. Help-seeking attitudes partially explain this association, while family care plays a significant moderating role in both stages. These findings highlight the importance of psychological and family-centered support in stroke rehabilitation. However, causal interpretations should be made cautiously due to the cross-sectional design.
Introduction:
Ischemic stroke, an acute cerebrovascular disease, is the most prevalent subtype of stroke worldwide, accounting for approximately 70%–80% of all stroke cases ( 1 ). Its high rates of disability and recurrence impose substantial social and economic burdens, making it a major public health concern globally, particularly in China. According to the China Stroke Surveillance Report 2021 ( 2 ), the 5-year recurrence rate of ischemic stroke in China is approximately 41%, with a 1-year recurrence rate of about 17%, which…
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