Stroke survivors who felt uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings about their condition and future had slower physical and cognitive recovery after their stroke, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The analysis found that difficulty sharing feelings with family or friends was as important as the severity of the stroke for identifying patients who would experience greater disability and poorer physical function one year later.
Researchers investigated whether social constraints on sharing feelings and emotions predicted loneliness and functional and cognitive disability one year after a stroke. The analysis included more than 700 participants in the STRONG (Stroke, sTress, RehabilitatiON, and Genetics) study, conducted at 28 U.S. sites. At 90 days post-stroke, participants answered questions about their interactions with a person they regularly depend on, often a family member serving as a caregiver.
The analysis found that one year after the stroke, people who felt less able to openly share their feelings at 90 days were more likely to experience several challenges. They felt lonelier, had more difficulty with everyday activities such as feeding or bathing, and experienced greater problems with thinking skills including memory, attention and language. "The level of social constraint after 90 days was just as effective at predicting overall disability and physical function one year later as the initial severity of the stroke," said lead study author E. Alison Holman, Ph.D., a professor of nursing at the University of California Irvine.
For business and technology leaders focused on healthcare innovation, these findings highlight a critical gap in post-stroke care models. The research suggests that supporting caregivers, family and health care professionals to provide a safe space that encourages stroke survivors to share their feelings and fears may enhance stroke recovery. This has implications for healthcare technology development, employee wellness programs, and insurance coverage models that could integrate psychosocial support into standard recovery protocols.
American Stroke Association volunteer expert Amytis Towfighi, M.D., FAHA, noted that while social support is increasingly recognized as beneficial after stroke, less is known about how social constraints affect recovery. "This study is one of the first to assess their influence on long-term psychological, cognitive and functional outcomes. The findings offer valuable insights that can inform interventions to improve post-stroke recovery," said Towfighi, who is also a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
The patient perspective underscores the practical implications. Dipika Aggarwal, a neurologist who experienced a stroke at age 38, described how sharing her story helped her heal. "The social, financial and psychological aspects of recovery are huge, and we don’t talk about them enough," said Aggarwal, who now volunteers for the American Stroke Association. Her experience, detailed in the study materials, illustrates how emotional expression can transform recovery trajectories.
For industry leaders, this research points to potential market opportunities in developing technologies and services that facilitate emotional expression and social connection during recovery. With stroke being a leading cause of disability worldwide, solutions that address the psychosocial dimensions of recovery could significantly impact healthcare costs and patient outcomes. The full study details are available in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner.
The study's findings, while preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal, suggest that healthcare systems and employers should consider emotional support as a measurable component of recovery programs. As businesses increasingly focus on comprehensive health benefits and return-to-work programs, understanding the role of social constraints in recovery could inform more effective support structures for employees experiencing major health events.
