TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived stigma and adherence in epilepsy
T2 - evidence for a link and mediating processes
AU - Chesaniuk, Marie
AU - Choi, Hyunmi
AU - Wicks, Paul
AU - Stadler, Gertraud
N1 - This study was supported by the Behavioral Science Student Fellowship from the Epilepsy Foundation of America (#214619). The authors thank Michelle Herrera, Vanessa Spano, and all the participants and members of the project team for assistance in collecting the data. We also thank Niall Bolger for advice on analyzing data. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01566500.
PY - 2014/12
Y1 - 2014/12
N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study tested whether perceived epilepsy-related stigma is associated with adherence in people living with epilepsy and if information, motivation, and behavioral skills are potential pathways underlying the stigma-adherence link.METHODS: We surveyed persons living with epilepsy between the ages of 18 and 65 (N = 140) using an online questionnaire to assess medication adherence and perceived epilepsy-related stigma. In addition, participants reported their level of information, motivation, and behavioral skills.RESULTS: Higher perceived epilepsy-related stigma was associated with lower medication adherence (r = -0.18, p < .05). Higher perceived stigma was associated with lower levels of information (r = -0.28, p < .05), motivation (r = -0.55, p < .05), and behavioral skills (r = -0.41, p < .05), and the link between stigma and adherence was fully explained by information, motivation, and behavioral skills, i.e., the effect of stigma on adherence was fully mediated (c = -0.18, p < .05 reduced to c' = 0.06, p = .48).CONCLUSION: Perceived epilepsy-related stigma is problematic for maintaining the prescribed medication regimen in people living with epilepsy. The information-motivation-behavioral skills model is a useful framework for understanding the pathways linking perceived stigma and adherence in this population.
AB - OBJECTIVE: This study tested whether perceived epilepsy-related stigma is associated with adherence in people living with epilepsy and if information, motivation, and behavioral skills are potential pathways underlying the stigma-adherence link.METHODS: We surveyed persons living with epilepsy between the ages of 18 and 65 (N = 140) using an online questionnaire to assess medication adherence and perceived epilepsy-related stigma. In addition, participants reported their level of information, motivation, and behavioral skills.RESULTS: Higher perceived epilepsy-related stigma was associated with lower medication adherence (r = -0.18, p < .05). Higher perceived stigma was associated with lower levels of information (r = -0.28, p < .05), motivation (r = -0.55, p < .05), and behavioral skills (r = -0.41, p < .05), and the link between stigma and adherence was fully explained by information, motivation, and behavioral skills, i.e., the effect of stigma on adherence was fully mediated (c = -0.18, p < .05 reduced to c' = 0.06, p = .48).CONCLUSION: Perceived epilepsy-related stigma is problematic for maintaining the prescribed medication regimen in people living with epilepsy. The information-motivation-behavioral skills model is a useful framework for understanding the pathways linking perceived stigma and adherence in this population.
KW - Adult
KW - Epilepsy
KW - Female
KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Medication Adherence
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Motivation
KW - Social Stigma
KW - Young Adult
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.10.004
DO - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.10.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 25461221
VL - 41
SP - 227
EP - 231
JO - Epilepsy and Behavior
JF - Epilepsy and Behavior
SN - 1525-5050
ER -