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A hopelessness model of depressive symptoms in youth with epilepsy
Janelle L Wagner1, Gigi Smith, Pamela L Ferguson
1Medical University of South Carolina, Developmental Pediatrics, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. wagnerjl@musc.edu
Objective:
To test the cognitive diathesis-stress and mediational components of the theory of learned hopelessness in youth with epilepsy.
Methods:
Seventy-seven participants ages 9-17 (35 girls, 42 boys) completed measures of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, self-efficacy for seizure management, and attitude toward epilepsy. Caregivers provided information on seizure activity. Diagnostic and treatment information was obtained via medical record review.
Results:
Regression analyses revealed that hopelessness mediated the attitude towards epilepsy-depressive symptom relationship. While attitude toward epilepsy and self-efficacy were independent predictors of depressive symptoms, the relationship of attitudes toward epilepsy and depressive symptoms was not enhanced with low self-efficacy for seizure management.
Conclusions:
Findings support the mediation component of the learned hopelessness theory in youth with epilepsy, suggesting the importance of interventions that assist youth in identifying epilepsy-related aspects of functioning over which they can realistically exercise control and challenging negative thoughts about situations they cannot control.
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