Racial differences in coping strategies among individuals with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether racial differences exist in the coping styles of individuals with epilepsy.


METHODS
This study utilized a survey of patients with epilepsy, including the Brief-COPE.


RESULTS
One hundred thirteen Caucasians and 70 African-Americans comprised the study population. On univariate analysis, annual household income (p<0.01), receiving disability benefits (p<0.01), and number of AEDs being currently used (p=0.04) significantly distinguished Caucasians from African-Americans. African-Americans reported higher utilization of religion (p<0.01), denial (p<0.01), emotional support (p=0.02), positive reframing (p<0.01), and planning (p<0.01) as coping reactions compared to Caucasians. Using ordinal logistic regression, the association between being African-American and the higher utilization of religion, positive reframing, planning, and denial as coping strategies remained statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Among individuals with epilepsy, African-Americans appear to utilize more engagement-type coping reactions when compared to Caucasians but also utilize more denial.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Florida Health Sciences Center/Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Electronic address: ramon.bautista@jax.ufl.edu.
Ramon Edmundo D
RE
Bautista
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
D000927:Anticonvulsants
African-Americans; Brief-COPE; Caucasians; Coping; Engagement-type coping strategies; Epilepsy; Racial disparities; Seizure disorder