Author(s)

Yawen Wu ¹, Binbin Yang ¹, Rui Yuan ¹, Xinyue Zhang ¹, Houming Si ¹, Xixi Niu ¹, Pan Zhang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ College of Nursing and Rehabilitation, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China

Corresponding Author

Pan Zhang

ABSTRACT

Stroke-related sarcopenia may increase psychological vulnerability due to impaired physical function and prolonged rehabilitation. However, learned helplessness in this population remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the level of learned helplessness and its associated factors among patients with stroke-related sarcopenia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 228 patients with stroke-related sarcopenia. Participants completed the Learned Helplessness Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with learned helplessness. The mean score of learned helplessness was 3.61±0.51, indicating a relatively high level of learned helplessness among patients with stroke-related sarcopenia. Regression analysis showed that educational level, monthly income, regular physical exercise, depression, number of comorbidities, and perceived social support were independent factors associated with learned helplessness. Higher educational attainment and greater social support were associated with lower levels of learned helplessness, whereas depressive symptoms, multiple comorbidities, and insufficient physical exercise were associated with higher levels of learned helplessness. Patients with stroke-related sarcopenia exhibit a relatively high level of learned helplessness. Early psychological screening and targeted interventions focusing on health education, exercise rehabilitation, depression management, and social support may help reduce learned helplessness and improve rehabilitation outcomes.

KEYWORDS

Stroke-related sarcopenia; Learned helplessness; Depression; Social support; Associated factors

CITE THIS PAPER

Yawen Wu, Binbin Yang, Rui Yuan, Xinyue Zhang, Houming Si, Xixi Niu, Pan Zhang. Learned Helplessness and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Stroke-Related Sarcopenia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Social Medicine and Health Management (2026). Vol. 7, No. 2, 31-37. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/socmhm.2026.070204.

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