Factors Influencing on Perceived Stigma of Parents with Epileptic Children

Kim, Bo Young; Lee, Sun Ju; Kim, Won Duk; Cho, Sung Min; Kim, Doo Kwon; Choi, Sung Min

Abstract

PURPOSE: Epilepsy, a typical chronic disease, may cause severe of psychosocial difficulties for all family members, including stigmatization. The present study focused on how children with epilepsy affect their parents' perceived stigma.
METHODS
Participants were 87 parents(21 fathers and 66 mothers) whose children were diagnosed as and treated for epilepsy at the pediatric epilepsy clinic in Dongguk University Hospital. To obtain data, the parental perceived stigma scales with 3 questionnaires were developed by modifying Jacoby's stigma scales. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 10.0 program using oneway ANOVA and multiple regression.
RESULTS
The results of the analysis showed that 22 parents(25.3%) have perceived stigma. Oneway ANOVA showed significant differences of the parental perceived stigma level according to the parental academic background, the number of antiepileptic drugs, the combined disabilities, the educational institution of epileptic children, and the desire for support. Multiple regression showed that the parental academic background and the existence of combined disabilities are the factors which influence significantly on the parental perceived stigma level.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the parents of epileptic children who have low academic background and who care for the epilepsy-plus children may have more perceived stigma. These findings may help healthcare providers prepare for the epilepsy family programs in terms of relieving their social stigma.