Hirst, Ruth (2024) A case study of a spousal caregiver’s experiences during the Covid 19 pandemic for a partner who has had a stroke : identifying implications for psychological support. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
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Abstract
This thesis is comprised of four chapters: a systematic literature review, empirical research paper, critical appraisal and ethics section. The literature review explored ethnic minority familial caregivers’ experiences of caring for a relative who has had a stroke. The meta ethnographic analysis revealed 4 overarching systemic themes; Self, Family, Culture and Spirituality and Formal Health and Social care systems. Faith and spirituality and dissatisfaction with formal services emerged strongly across the eleven papers. The empirical paper was a single case study design across two time points to explore the experiences of a spousal caregiver of stroke during the Covid pandemic. An IPA analysis was carried out and three overarching themes emerged: Stopping vs changing, Control and entrapment and Hope and growth. The case study demonstrated how confronting post-stroke difficulties, rather that trying to avoid them, can facilitate the necessary processing to achieve posttraumatic growth and hope for the future. The critical appraisal seeks to explore and reflect upon the research process with discussion reflecting upon reaching the ‘hard to reach’, socially sensitive research and methodological considerations of single case study design. The final section contains the ethics application paperwork supporting the empirical paper;relevant documents are appended.