Investigating family resilience factors for enhancing family adaptation in children with epilepsy

Abstract

Purpose: To identify and understand the key family resilience factors that contribute to the improved family adaptation of children with epilepsy.

Methods: Parent of children with epilepsy treated in the outpatient unit and general ward at Severance Children’s Hospital in Seoul, Korea, completed a structured online questionnaire between April and May 2023. This study examined risk (epilepsy severity, time since diagnosis, parental depression, and perceived stigma) and protective factors (child temperament, epilepsy knowledge, family communication skills, parent’s educational level, monthly household income, and social support) of family adaptation based on Patterson’s Family Resilience Model. Furthermore, general characteristics such as daily caregiving time, perceived parental health, family type, and primary caregiver role were analyzed.

Results: This study included 131 participants with a mean age of 41.79 ± 5.77 years, with children having an average age of 9.19 ± 4.94 years. The regression model was significant, and revealed the impact of communication skills, social support, and primary caregivers other than parents. Moreover, a shorter time since diagnosis has a more positive impact on family adaptation.

Conclusions: To improve family adaptation in children with epilepsy, the focus should be placed on improving communication skills, increasing social support, and providing access to external support services. Furthermore, families expecting longer illness duration require proactive measures to support them. These findings could guide future strategies to enhance adaptation in families with children with epilepsy.