Citation

Smith AW, Mara C, Ollier S, Combs A, Modi AC. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2018; 43(1): 52-60.

Affiliation

Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsx089

PMID

28575381

Abstract

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. 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. 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. Adolescents with epilepsy endorsed normative levels of rebelliousness, which is negatively related to HRQOL. Older adolescents may warrant clinical attention.

Language: en

Keywords

adherence; family functioning; inattention; quality of life; seizure.