Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychological factors on the quality of life of children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families.

Methods : Children and adolescents with epilepsy and their families (n = 63, age range = 6-17 years) completed questionnaires on epilepsy-related variables, quality of life, children's depressive symptoms, children's anxiety, children's behavioral problems, children's attention problems, parental stress, and parental anxiety. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictive variables that affect quality of life.

Results : In the correlational analysis, children's attention problems (r = 0.363, p = 0.004), parental anxiety (r = 0.377, p = 0.003), parental stress (r = 0.564, p < 0.001), and children's behavioral problems (r = 0.503, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with quality of life. Parental stress (β = 0.415, p = 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.345) and children's behavioral problems (β = 0.285, p = 0.02, adjusted R2 = 0.345) were significantly related to the quality of life.

Conclusions : Clinicians should pay attention to parental stress and children's behavioral problems, which affect quality of life in families with pediatric epilepsy.

Keywords Epilepsy;Quality of life;Child;Adolescents;Psychological factors;Behavioral problems.