Potential profiles of social isolation in elderly stroke patients: A cross-sectional study

Aim: Social isolation is a psychological state resulting from insufficient interpersonal interaction, marked by loneliness, helplessness, and unmet social needs following voluntary or involuntary social withdrawal. It may negatively impact the quality of life in elderly stroke patients. Due to its subtle nature and the varying clinical presentations and intervention needs across demographic groups, exploring its characteristics and influencing factors in this population holds important clinical value. Methods: A total of 376 elderly stroke patients were surveyed between January and October 2024 using the Generalized Alienation Scale (GAS), Fear of Progression Questionnaire–Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), and Stroke Stigma Scale (SSS). Latent profile analysis was employed to classify participants based on social isolation variables, and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify subgroup-specific influencing factors related to demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Three subgroups were identified: "low social isolation group" (C1), "moderate social isolation group" (C2), and "high social isolation group" (C3). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living alone, monthly household income, family status, physical disabilities, fear of disease progression, and stigma are significant influencing factors among these subgroups. Conclusions: The study identified three distinct subgroups of elderly stroke patients marked by varying levels of social isolation. To effectively reduce social isolation and improve rehabilitation outcomes, health care professionals should design targeted interventions tailored to the specific characteristics of each subgroup.