title: Life satisfaction in women with epilepsy during and after pregnancy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate life satisfaction in women with epilepsy during and after pregnancy.
  
  
  
  The study was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, including 102,265 women with and without epilepsy from the general population. Investigation took place at pregnancy weeks 15-19 and 6 and 18months postpartum. Women with epilepsy were compared with a reference group without epilepsy.
  
  
  
  The proportion of women with epilepsy was 0.6-0.7% at all three time points. Women with epilepsy reported lower life satisfaction and self-esteem both during and after pregnancy compared with the references. Single parenting correlated negatively with life satisfaction in epilepsy during the whole study period. Epilepsy was associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of work strain during pregnancy and lower levels of self-efficacy and satisfactory somatic health 18months postpartum. Adverse life events, such as divorce, were more common in women with epilepsy compared with the references, and fewer women with epilepsy had a paid job 18months postpartum.
  
  
  
  Reduced life satisfaction associated with epilepsy during and after pregnancy showed that, even in a highly developed welfare society, women with epilepsy struggle. Mothers with epilepsy and their partners should be examined for emotional complaints and partnership satisfaction during and after pregnancy. Validated screening tools are available for such measures.
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: simone.reiter@uib.no.
authors: Simone Frizell
authors: SF
authors: Reiter
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Marte Helene
authors: MH
authors: Bjørk
authors: Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway; Medical Birth Registry of Norway, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Anne Kjersti
authors: AK
authors: Daltveit
authors: Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Gyri
authors: G
authors: Veiby
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Eivind
authors: E
authors: Kolstad
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Bernt A
authors: BA
authors: Engelsen
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Nils Erik
authors: NE
authors: Gilhus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D016487:Parenting; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gestation; Postpartum; Quality of life; Relationship; Self-esteem; The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study