PhD Student Harris Submits NIH NRSA Fellowship Application

Kudos to Gabrielle Harris and her advisor, Janet Bettger for the submission of her NIH NRSA Fellowship application entitled “Parenting and Stroke Recovery." This proposal requests funding for 29 months with a start date of April 1, 2018.

Abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States, disrupting physical and psychosocial functioning. One in ten strokes occur in adults younger than 50 years of age and the incidence has increased approximately 44% from 2000 to 2010. For young adult survivors, the effects of stroke may be more profound due to disruptions and disturbances with employment, family routines, and childcare responsibilities. Parenting is considered the most demanding social role during young and middle adulthood due to the significant emotional and physical demands. Parenting has equal societal value to paid employment and yet there is a paucity of research on stroke survivors as parents compared with paid vocational roles. The increasing incidence of young stroke makes it critically important to study the association of parenting and stroke recovery and differences by sex and race. The purpose of this study is to examine the recovery of stroke survivors who are parents over time with an attention to the role of sex, race, and parenting stress.

Prior to discharge we will measure important patient socio-demographics, life situation, and clinical characteristics. At one month after discharge we will measure patients’ self-reported life and parenting stress, re-assess life situation for changes post-stroke, and social support. Stroke recovery will be measured using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) prior to discharge and at 3-months post-discharge.

1. Compare change in recovery from discharge to 3 months between stroke survivors who are parents and stroke survivors who are not parents.
2. Examine the moderating effect of sex and race on the association of parental status and recovery.
3. Among stroke survivors who are parents, examine the association of parenting stress at 1-month and change in recovery from discharge to 3 months.

My long-term career goal is to improve psychosocial outcomes for young stroke survivors by developing interventions that maximize their health so they can hold meaningful roles post-stroke. This study is significant because it: (a) improves the understanding of novel factors that may impact recovery; and (b) generates new knowledge that is meaningful for young stroke survivors’ recovery and clinical management.