Warning: fopen(/home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/upload/ip_log/ip_log_2024-03.txt) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/ip_info/view_data.php on line 82

Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/ip_info/view_data.php on line 83
Mediating effect of perceived stigma against epilepsy on quality of life among parents with epileptic child

Korean Journal of Pediatrics 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 Kim1, Sung Min Cho2, Dong Wook 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
간질아동 부모의 삶의 질에 대한 지각된 낙인의 매개효과
김노은1, 조성민2, 김동욱3
1알코올사업기술지원단
2동국대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실
3인제대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실
Correspondence: 
Sung Min 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.
Key Words: Epilepsy, Parent, Quality of life


METRICS Graph View
  • 2,463 View
  • 18 Download