Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Parenting stress and perceived stigma in mothers of young children with epilepsy: A case-control study
Colin Reilly1, Patricia Atkinson2, Ayesha Memon2
1Research Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
The aim was to provide data on parenting stress and perceived stigma in mothers (n = 47) of young children with epilepsy, and to compare findings with those of mothers (n = 48) of developmental, age- and gender-matched children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability (neurological and/or neurodevelopmental concerns). The mothers of young children (1-7 years) with epilepsy and mothers of children with neurodisability in a defined geographical area of the UK, completed the Parenting Stress Index-4th Edition (PSI-4) and a measure of perceived stigma. Factors associated with parenting stress and stigma were analyzed using linear regression. Thirty-eight percent of mothers of children with epilepsy scored in the at-risk range (>85th percentile) on the Total Stress score of the PSI-4 (Neurodisability 21%) (p = 0.06). Significantly more mothers of children with epilepsy scored in the at-risk range on the Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction subscale than mothers of children with neurodisability (Epilepsy 45% vs. Neurodisability 21%; p = 0.01), but not on the Parental Distress subscale (Epilepsy 32% vs. Neurodisability 23%; p = 0.33) or Difficult Child (Epilepsy 57% vs. Neurodisability 46%; p = 0.26) subscales. There was no statistically significant difference in perceived stigma between mothers in both groups (p = 0.51). Factors significantly associated with increased parenting stress in the group with epilepsy were child behavior difficulties (p < 0.001) and maternal sleep difficulties (p = 0.02). Lower child developmental level was the only factor independently associated with increased stigma in the group with epilepsy (p = 0.08). Mothers of young children with epilepsy report high levels of parenting stress and higher levels of difficulties with parent-child interaction compared with that of mothers of children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability. Parenting stress and stigma in epilepsy were not associated with epilepsy factors. Efforts at reducing parenting stress and stigma should focus on interventions targeting child development and maternal sleep.
The aim was to provide data on parenting stress and perceived stigma in mothers (n = 47) of young children with epilepsy, and to compare findings with those of mothers (n = 48) of developmental, age- and gender-matched children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability (neurological and/or neurodevelopmental concerns). The mothers of young children (1-7 years) with epilepsy and mothers of children with neurodisability in a defined geographical area of the UK, completed the Parenting Stress Index-4th Edition (PSI-4) and a measure of perceived stigma. Factors associated with parenting stress and stigma were analyzed using linear regression. Thirty-eight percent of mothers of children with epilepsy scored in the at-risk range (>85th percentile) on the Total Stress score of the PSI-4 (Neurodisability 21%) (p = 0.06). Significantly more mothers of children with epilepsy scored in the at-risk range on the Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction subscale than mothers of children with neurodisability (Epilepsy 45% vs. Neurodisability 21%; p = 0.01), but not on the Parental Distress subscale (Epilepsy 32% vs. Neurodisability 23%; p = 0.33) or Difficult Child (Epilepsy 57% vs. Neurodisability 46%; p = 0.26) subscales. There was no statistically significant difference in perceived stigma between mothers in both groups (p = 0.51). Factors significantly associated with increased parenting stress in the group with epilepsy were child behavior difficulties (p < 0.001) and maternal sleep difficulties (p = 0.02). Lower child developmental level was the only factor independently associated with increased stigma in the group with epilepsy (p = 0.08). Mothers of young children with epilepsy report high levels of parenting stress and higher levels of difficulties with parent-child interaction compared with that of mothers of children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability. Parenting stress and stigma in epilepsy were not associated with epilepsy factors. Efforts at reducing parenting stress and stigma should focus on interventions targeting child development and maternal sleep.
Related Concept Videos
00:55Parental Care
01:21Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
01:27Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....