The Relationship of Self Efficacy and Social Support to the Psychosocial Adjustment in People with Epilepsy

Moon, Seong Mi

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of self efficacy and social support to the psychosocial adjustment in people with epilepsy. Data were collected from October 1 to October 15, 1999 from 101 people with epilepsy who were being treated regularly at one of the university hospitals located in Seoul. The research instruments were a questionnaire to gather demographic and disease-specific data, the Epilepsy Psycho- Social Effects Scale developed by Chaplin et al(1990), the Epilepsy Self Efficacy Scale developed by DiIorio et al(1992a) and translated by Park(1999), the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire developed by Norbeck et al(1981) and translated by Oh(1985). Data were analyzed using the SPSS program. The results are as follow : 1. Of the 14 psychosocial adjustment areas, 75 of 101 subjects experienced problems in ten or more areas and 28 in all 14 areas. The severity of the psychosocial adjustment problem was moderate or more in six areas. 2. The score for self efficacy was an average of 1103.86 out of a possible 1800, for social support 117.57 for total functional out of a possible 720, and 48.21 for total network out of a possible 264. There were an average of five people on the network. The main network people were parents, brothers and sisters, spouse, friends. 3. Of the 14 psychosocial adjustment areas, six areas correlated with self efficacy and 'problems with taking medication' area had a negative correlation with social support. In conclusion, people with epilepsy have various problems in psychosocial adjustment. Nursing interventions using self efficacy should be developed to improve psychosocial adjustment in people with epilepsy. Also, instruments and interventions for regimen-specific supports which are suitable for epilepsy should be developed.