Examining the relationships of depressive symptoms, stigma, social support and regimen-specific support on quality of life in adult patients with epilepsy.

Epilepsy research efforts have primarily focused on medical treatment and physical management of epilepsy; however, to provide comprehensive care, efforts cannot focus solely on physical manifestations of epilepsy. Research findings show that people with epilepsy face many challenges that can negatively affect quality of life (QOL). In this descriptive study, we examined the individual relationships between depressive symptoms, stigma, social support and regimen-specific support and QOL in adults with epilepsy. Study data were obtained from a subset of patients (N = 147) who participated in a longitudinal study of adult patients with epilepsy. Measures of QOL, depressive symptoms, stigma, social support and regimen-specific support were analyzed to answer the research questions. The results of correlational analyses revealed statistically significant negative correlations between depressive symptoms, stigma and sometimes regimen-specific support and QOL and statistically significant positive correlations between social support and QOL. A hierarchical multiple linear regression model revealed that depressive symptoms accounted for the most variance in QOL. Psychosocial variables measured 3 months prior to QOL were entered into a hierarchical multiple linear regression model, revealing that depressive symptoms, stigma and social support can be used to predict QOL at a later time.

Correlates of sexuality communication among mothers and 6-12-year-old children.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the extent to which personal characteristics, knowledge and beliefs, and family interactions and relationships are related to the occurrence of mother-child communication about sexuality. METHODS: The study used a descriptive, cross-sectional design among a convenience sample of 298 predominantly lower- to middle-income African American mothers and 298 of their 6-12-year-old-children recruited from a youth-serving, community-based organization. Participants completed a computer-based interview to collect data on sexuality communication, general mother-child communication, parental involvement and monitoring, parent relationship with child's peer group, child's social skills and problem behaviours, mothers' self-efficacy, outcome expectations, comfort with sexuality communication, and demographics. RESULTS: Mothers were more likely to communicate with daughters and older children. Greater self-efficacy and comfort in sexuality communication were related to greater sexuality communication. We also explored several inconsistent findings in previous studies - mother's age, socio-economic status and religiosity. Mother's age and socio-economic status were not significant, and religiosity approached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Mother's self-efficacy and comfort are potentially modifiable variables and therefore should be taken into consideration when designing interventions that aim to increase parent-child communication about sexuality.