Psychosocial factors associated with stigma in adults with epilepsy.
Living Well with Epilepsy II called for further attention to stigma and its impact on people with epilepsy. In response, the South Carolina Health Outcomes Project on Epilepsy (SC HOPE) is examining the relationship between socioeconomic status, epilepsy severity, health care utilization, and quality of life in persons diagnosed with epilepsy. The current analysis quantifies perceived stigma reported by adults with epilepsy in relation to demographic, seizure-related, health, and psychosocial factors. It was found that reported levels of stigma were associated with interactions of seizure worry and employment status, self-efficacy and social support, and quality care and age at seizure onset. This information may be used to target and develop evidence-based interventions for adults with epilepsy at high risk for perceived stigma, as well as to inform epilepsy research in self-management.
College of Nursing and Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. smithgi@musc.edu
Gigi
G
Smith
Pamela L
PL
Ferguson
Lee L
LL
Saunders
Janelle L
JL
Wagner
Braxton B
BB
Wannamaker
Anbesaw W
AW
Selassie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult