Dynamics of Perceived Social Isolation, Secondary Conditions, and Daily Activity Patterns Among Individuals With Stroke: A Network Analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment Data

Highlights•Worthlessness predicted perceived social isolation contemporaneously and temporally.•Out-of-home activities alleviated perceived social isolation and negative emotions.•EMA and network analysis are valuable for studying social isolation dynamics.AbstractObjectiveTo assess contemporaneous and temporal dynamics of perceived social isolation (PSI), secondary conditions, and daily activity patterns in individuals post-stroke.DesignLongitudinal observational study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) as a real-time assessment of an individual's lived experiences. We conducted dynamic network analyses to examine longitudinal associations among EMA variables.SettingsHome and Community.Participants202 individuals with mild-to-moderate chronic stroke (median age=60 years; 45% women; 44% black; 90% ischemic stroke; median NIHSS score=2; N=202).InterventionNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresEMA questions measured PSI, secondary conditions (pain, tiredness, stress, anxiety, worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and cheerfulness), and daily activity patterns (being at home, being alone, and participating in productive activities).ResultsThe median EMA response rate was 84%. The contemporaneous model showed that PSI was associated with being home, alone, and all symptoms except pain. The temporal model revealed a pathway indicating that feelings of worthlessness predicted PSI (regression coefficient=0.06, P=.019), followed by stress (regression coefficient=0.06, P=.024), and then by being not at home (regression coefficient=-0.04, P=.013).ConclusionImplementing dynamic network analyses on EMA data can uncover dynamic connections among PSI, secondary conditions, and daily activity patterns after stroke. This study found a significant temporal association between PSI and negative emotions. Feeling isolated was followed by feeling stressed, which was followed by a tendency to be out of home, indicating adaptive behaviors in individuals with stroke. These findings highlight the importance of engaging in out-of-home or outdoor activities to mitigate PSI and negative emotions.