An Analysis of Factors Influencing Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with Epilepsy

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore disease factors in children with epilepsy, parental factors and resource factors that are related to parenting stress and identify effects of each factor on parenting stress. METHODS: Participants were 131 parents who had children who visited a hospital or were hospitalized due to epilepsy. Data collection was done between September 17 and November 17, 2012, and self-report surveys were used. RESULTS: In Stepwise multiple regression analysis, factors influencing parenting stress in children with epilepsy were marital communication, educational background of parents, parenting efficacy, children's development delay, drug treatment and surgical treatment as a method of epilepsy treatment. These factors explained 34.6% (F=13.22, p<.001) of the variance in parenting stress. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that parental factors (educational background of parents and parenting efficacy) and resource factors (marital communication) have higher explanatory power than disease factors of the children. Thus, it is importance to assess the capacity of parents through self-evaluation, and to assess barriers to marital communication when developing parenting stress intervention programs. Furthermore, both parents should be involved in interventions for parenting stress.

Eating Attitudes, Depression, Parent-child Interaction, and Family Function of Adolescent Girls / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes and to identify possible risk factors associated with these attitudes among Korean adolescent girls. METHODS: A convenience sample of 1,126 girls aged 15 to 19 years was recruited from thirteen high schools. A self-report survey was conducted including Eating Attitude Test for diagnosing abnormal eating attitudes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression with PASW statistics 18.0. RESULTS: Of the participants, 8.3% met the criteria for abnormal eating attitudes. Misperception of body image, depression, and high or low economical status were significantly associated with abnormal eating attitudes (OR=3.50, 95% CI=1.95~6.28; OR=5.47, 95% CI=3.17~9.44; OR=2.26, 95% CI=1.14~4.47; OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.25~4.66). CONCLUSION: The current study identified the family factors as well as internal ones related to abnormal eating attitudes of Korean adolescent girls. The results indicate that the most effective prevention strategies for this population would be to correct their misperception of body image and control depression. Results also suggest that further studies are necessary to develop a predictive model that could explain the influence of family factors including parent-child interaction and family function to abnormal eating attitudes.