All issues > Volume 52(9); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(9):1005-1014. Published online September 15, 2009.

Mediating effect of perceived stigma against epilepsy on quality of life among parents with epileptic child

Nho Eun NE Kim¹, Sung Min SM Cho², Dong Wook DW Kim³

¹Alcohol Project Supporting Committee, Goyang, Korea
²epartment of Pediatrics, Dongguk University International Hospital, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang, Korea
³Department of Pediatrics, Ilsan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Goyang, Korea

Correspondence Sung Min SM Cho ,Email: smchoped@hotmail.com

Abstract

Purpose
Epilepsy of child may cause high level of psychosocial difficulties for parents including stigmatization and stress and therefore worsen their quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating effect of perceived stigma against epilepsy on QOL among parents with epileptic child.
Methods
Two hundred and sixty parents of epileptic child recruited from five separated university hospital child neurology clinics specializing in epilepsy completed a demographic questionnaire, a medical questionnaire, a perceived stigma questionnaire and the Ro's Quality of Life Inventory, a popular tool for evaluating QOL of adults in Korea which is composed of 6 domains and 47 questions. Data was analyzed with SPSS 14.0 program using frequency analysis and descriptive analysis and with AMOS 7.0 program using Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis.
Results
The level of parents' QOL was relatively fair. SEM analysis on the quality of life level of parents showed that all variables (especially having religion, the monthly income, employment state, age of child, the leisure time, the perceived stigma level against epilepsy, and seizure frequency) directly affect the quality of life level of parents and that disease- related variables also affect the quality of life level of parents indirectly through the mediating factor (the perceived stigma), where the indirect effect is large with the existence of combined disabilities. The total effect on the quality of life level of parents is large with the existence of combined disabilities, the perceived stigma level, the leisure time, having religion, and the monthly income.
Conclusion
The results of this study indicated that many factors including parents' perceived stigma may affect the quality of life of parents with epileptic children directly, and that some disease-related factors may affect indirectly through a mediating factor, the perceived stigma. Multidisciplinary collaboration would be imperative for their welfare.

Keywords :Epilepsy, Parent, Quality of life