Self concept and gender effects in Korean adolescents with epilepsy
PURPOSE We aimed to determine whether adolescents with epilepsy (AWE) have a compromised self concept, whether a lower self concept is related to mental health, and whether there are sex differences in self concept in AWE. METHODS A total of 179 AWE and 259 control adolescents without epilepsy participated in this cross sectional, multicenter study. Self concept was measured using the Harter's Self Perception Profile for Children. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) A group by sex interaction was evaluated using an analysis of covariance controlling for age. RESULTS Adolescents with epilepsy had a lower level of self concept, especially in domains of behavioral conduct (partial eta(2) 0.257) and social acceptance (partial eta(2) 0.116) than controls (p<0.05) The level of self concept did not differ by sex in the group with epilepsy. A group by sex interaction effect was found on social acceptance (p=0.042) Unlike the control group, age was not correlated with self concept in AWE. Physical appearance was negatively correlated with HADS anxiety scores (r= 0.291, p<0.01) but only in girls with epilepsy. Epilepsy duration was correlated with social acceptance in boys (r=0.211, p<0.05) and physical appearance in girls (r= 0.249, p<0.05) CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with epilepsy had a lower level of self concept, especially in the domains of behavioral conduct and social acceptance, than controls. Sex differences in self concept were identified in the control group but not in the group with epilepsy. Physical appearance was negatively correlated with anxiety in girls with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Behavior