Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2019 Oct;26(2):79-87. 10.0000/kjbp.2019.26.2.79.

A Study on the Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy and Their Families

• Lee ME
• Kim GE
• Lee HW
• Kim EJ

• KMID: 2469519
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2019.26.2.79

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychological factors on the quality of life of children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families.
METHODS
Children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families (n = 63, age range = 6-17 years) completed questionnaires on epilepsy-related variables, quality of life, children's depressive symptoms, children's anxiety, children's behavioral problems, children's attention problems, parental stress, and parental anxiety. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictive variables that affect quality of life.
RESULTS
In the correlational analysis, children's attention problems (r = 0.363, p = 0.004), parental anxiety (r = 0.377, p = 0.003), parental stress (r = 0.564, p < 0.001), and children's behavioral problems (r = 0.503, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with quality of life. Parental stress (β = 0.415, p = 0.001, adjusted R² = 0.345) and children's behavioral problems (β = 0.285, p = 0.02, adjusted R² = 0.345) were significantly related to the quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should pay attention to parental stress and children's behavioral problems, which affect quality of life in families with pediatric epilepsy.

Keyword

Epilepsy; Quality of life; Child; Adolescents; Psychological factors; Behavioral problems

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Anxiety
Child*
Depression
Epilepsy*
Humans
Parents
Problem Behavior
Psychology
Quality of Life*