Studies on rehabilitation post-stroke have found that even though individuals can carry out activities of daily living independently, few return to previous roles within the home and community. Other studies have found a high proportion of stroke survivors to be depressed.

In this study, forty-six stroke patients were interviewed to assess coping strategies and adaptation. High correlations were found between problem-coping strategies and activities of daily living capacity. Individuals who used many problem solving techniques also had higher overall adaptation. Incidence of depressive symptomatology was greater in patients who used many affective-oriented coping strategies.

While coping strategies were correlated with stroke outcome, severity of the neurological deficit was the most highly correlated variable studied in relationship to adaptation.