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Published on: September 20, 2024
Rebellious Behaviors in Adolescents With Epilepsy
Aimee W Smith1, Constance Mara1, Shannon Ollier1
1Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Objectives:
The study aims are to (1) examine the prevalence of risk-taking (i.e., behaviors that can be categorized as rebellious or reckless) and (2) determine the influence of risk-taking on adherence, seizures, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents with epilepsy. An exploratory aim was to identify predictors of risk-taking.
Methods:
Fifty-four adolescents with epilepsy (M = 15.33 ± 1.46 years) and caregivers completed questionnaires on demographics, risk-taking, parent-child relations, adolescent inattention/hyperactivity, and HRQOL at four time points across 1 year. Seizure occurrence and electronically monitored adherence were also collected.
Results:
Rebellious behaviors were normative and stable over 1 year in adolescents with epilepsy. Higher rebelliousness was related to poorer adolescent-reported memory HRQOL. The only significant positive predictor of rebellious behaviors was adolescent age.
Conclusions:
Adolescents with epilepsy endorsed normative levels of rebelliousness, which is negatively related to HRQOL. Older adolescents may warrant clinical attention.
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