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How does the label "epileptic" influence attitudes toward epilepsy?
Latica Friedrich1, Marina Taslak2, Sanja Tomasović1
1Department of Neurology, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Sveti Duh 64, Zagreb, Croatia.
Seizure
|November 13, 2015
Summary
Using the label "epileptic" can lead to more negative attitudes toward individuals with epilepsy, particularly in intimate relationships. The term "person with epilepsy" fosters more positive social perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Stigma surrounding epilepsy significantly impacts individuals' quality of life.
- Language used to describe epilepsy can influence public perception and attitudes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the terminology used to describe epilepsy affects attitudes.
- To compare attitudes towards a "person with epilepsy" versus an "epileptic".
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaires administered to two groups of high school students.
- Attitudes measured using general questions and a social distance scale.
- Mann-Whitney test used for statistical comparison.
Main Results:
- The group exposed to the term "epileptic" showed significantly more negative attitudes.
- Negative attitudes were more pronounced regarding cohabitation and marriage.
- No significant difference in attitudes for impersonal domains like communication or work.
Conclusions:
- The label "epileptic" can evoke greater negativity, especially in intimate contexts.
- Using person-first language like "person with epilepsy" may mitigate negative biases.
- Careful consideration of language is crucial in epilepsy awareness and advocacy.
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