Overprotection and determinants of overprotection in adults with epilepsy

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the perceived overprotection of adult people with epilepsy (PWE) by using a specifically developed novel scale. The study also investigated whether perceived overprotection is associated with particular demographic or clinical variables.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on responses from 200 adult PWE. The participants completed a clinical-demographic questionnaire, the perceived overprotection scale, felt-stigma scale, concealment of epilepsy scale and epilepsy concern scale.

Results: One-way ANOVA results show that perceived overprotection was significantly greater among participants with lower income and levels of education. The highest number of affirmative responses in the perceived overprotection scale were related to going out alone and being given fewer family responsibilities due to epilepsy. Hierarchical regression results show that concerns related to social life and to future and occupation were significant predictors of high perceived overprotection.

Conclusion: Psycho-social factors, specifically concerns, seem to be more important than epilepsy-related variables in explaining perceived overprotection in adult PWE.

Keywords: Concerns related to epilepsy; Epilepsy; Felt stigma; Perceived overprotection; Perceived overprotection scale.