15/04/2026
I co-authored a recent article titled "Influence of memory functioning on quality of life in stroke patients: the moderating role of social support", which was published in BMC Psychology, a Springer Nature. The entire authors include: Mensah-Diawuo, R., Amponsah, M.O., Nwanamulu, M.T. and Bismark, A. (2026). Below is the abstract of the article.
Abstract
Background
Stroke survivors commonly experience memory impairments that negatively affect daily functioning and overall quality of life (QoL). Although social support is often considered beneficial in stroke recovery, its role in influencing cognitive outcomes and QoL remains inconclusive. This study examined the influence of memory functioning on QoL among stroke patients and investigated whether perceived social support moderates this relationship in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. The study also explored the effects of selected sociodemographic characteristics on memory functioning and QoL.
Methods
A quantitative correlational design was employed. Using simple random sampling, 132 stroke patients were selected from a population of 189 at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Standardized instruments assessed memory functioning, stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QoL), and perceived social support. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) determined levels of the main variables, while frequencies and percentages summarized sociodemographic characteristics. Pearson correlation analysis examined associations among variables. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses tested predictive relationships. Moderation analysis was conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and between-subject analyses assessed the effects of age, s*x, education, and marital status on memory functioning and QoL.
Results
Participants demonstrated generally high levels of memory functioning and perceived social support, while overall SS-QoL was moderate, with domain scores ranging from low to moderate levels. Memory functioning showed a moderate positive correlation with QoL and significantly predicted QoL (β = 0.523, p = .021). Social support was not significantly correlated with QoL, did not predict QoL (β = 0.331, p = .150), and did not moderate the relationship between memory functioning and QoL (interaction term p = .15). Sociodemographic analyses revealed no significant differences in memory functioning or QoL across s*x, education, or marital status. However, age demonstrated a near-significant trend with a moderate effect size for memory functioning and QoL, suggesting possible age-related variation.
Conclusion
Memory functioning is a significant determinant of quality of life among stroke survivors in the Cape Coast Metropolis, whereas perceived social support did not demonstrate direct or moderating effects in this sample. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating cognitive assessment and memory-focused rehabilitation into post-stroke care, with particular attention to age-sensitive interventions to improve long-term quality of life outcomes.
The link to the article:
https://rdcu.be/fdB53
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