| The present study assessed a series of interrelationships guided by Wallander and Varni's Disability-Stress-Coping model (Wallander & Varni, 1992). The major goals of the study were to examine the relationship between condition severity and social competence and then explore two potential mediators of this relationship, perceived stigma and academic achievement. Thirty-five families participated. Children were between the ages of 8 and 13 and included children from a wide range of socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Children and one of their parents completed a series of questionnaires and then the children completed a brief measure of their cognitive functioning and academic achievement. Overall, support for the three study hypotheses was disappointing. The relationship between condition severity and social competence approached significance, while neither perceived stigma nor academic achievement were determined to serve as mediators of this relationship. Post hoc analyses, however, indicated that a child's cognitive functioning may serve as a mediator of the relationship between condition severity and social competence. Findings suggest that children with more severe epilepsy may be at increased risk for social difficulties and that the child's cognitive functioning may partially explain this relationship. Future studies should include larger samples and look more closely at specific seizure variables. |
