Self-compassion, mental health, and emotion regulation in adults with temporal lobe epilepsy

People with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) are at increased risk of mental health difficulties, most commonly anxiety and depression. Self-compassion, comprised of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, has been associated with better mental health in wider epilepsy populations. Previous research also suggests that self-compassion may be protective by fostering better emotion regulation. However, this has not been studied in TLE.

To (1) compare adults with TLE, other types of epilepsy (non-TLE), and without epilepsy (non-epilepsy) on measures of self-compassion, anxiety, and depression, and (2) investigate the relationships between self-compassion, mental health, and emotion regulation difficulties in adults with TLE.

A cross-sectional, online survey was completed by 180 adults with TLE, 149 with non-TLE, and 127 non-epilepsy. The survey measured sociodemographic and epilepsy-related factors, self-compassion, anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation difficulties.

Anxiety and depression levels were highest in TLE, followed by non-TLE and then non-epilepsy. Overall self-compassion, and components self-kindness and common humanity, were lowest in TLE, followed by non-TLE and then non-epilepsy. Mindfulness was lower among epilepsy groups than non-epilepsy but did not significantly differ between epilepsy groups. In TLE, higher self-compassion predicted lower anxiety and depression, after controlling for significant sociodemographic and epilepsy-related factors. Emotion regulation difficulties partially mediated such relationships.

These findings contribute to understanding risk factors for poor mental health among adults with TLE. Screening to identify those at risk may be beneficial. Future research evaluating interventions to target such factors is needed, to inform psychological support and care pathways.