Exploring the impact of aphasia severity on employment, social participation, and quality of life.

Abstract

Aphasia impairs communication and is associated with reduced employment, limited social participation, and lower quality of life. However, the relationship between aphasia severity and these outcomes remains underexplored, especially regarding employment. This cross-sectional study examined employment status, social participation, and quality of life in 136 individuals with chronic aphasia following cerebrovascular disease. Multiple logistic and linear regression models were used to evaluate the influence of aphasia severity, non-linguistic cognitive function, apathy, mobility, and social environmental barriers specifically focusing on the working-age population under 65 for employment analysis. Aphasia severity was a significant negative predictor of both employment status and quality of life. Social environmental barriers also negatively impacted quality of life. Reduced mobility, male gender, and older age were associated with lower social participation, while employment status was not significantly related to either social participation or quality of life. These findings highlight the central role of aphasia severity in shaping long-term socio-occupational outcomes and well-being. The results suggest that early interventions targeting language rehabilitation and environmental accessibility, along with tailored occupational support, may enhance quality of life and promote occupational engagement in individuals with aphasia.