Ramon Edmundo D Bautista1. 1. Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Florida Health Sciences Center/Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Electronic address: ramon.bautista@jax.ufl.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether racial differences exist in the coping styles of individuals with epilepsy. METHODS: This study utilized a survey of patients with epilepsy, including the Brief-COPE. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen Caucasians and 70 African-Americans comprised the study population. On univariate analysis, annual household income (p<0.01), receiving disability benefits (p<0.01), and number of AEDs being currently used (p=0.04) significantly distinguished Caucasians from African-Americans. African-Americans reported higher utilization of religion (p<0.01), denial (p<0.01), emotional support (p=0.02), positive reframing (p<0.01), and planning (p<0.01) as coping reactions compared to Caucasians. Using ordinal logistic regression, the association between being African-American and the higher utilization of religion, positive reframing, planning, and denial as coping strategies remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Among individuals with epilepsy, African-Americans appear to utilize more engagement-type coping reactions when compared to Caucasians but also utilize more denial.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether racial differences exist in the coping styles of individuals with epilepsy. METHODS: This study utilized a survey of patients with epilepsy, including the Brief-COPE. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen Caucasians and 70 African-Americans comprised the study population. On univariate analysis, annual household income (p<0.01), receiving disability benefits (p<0.01), and number of AEDs being currently used (p=0.04) significantly distinguished Caucasians from African-Americans. African-Americans reported higher utilization of religion (p<0.01), denial (p<0.01), emotional support (p=0.02), positive reframing (p<0.01), and planning (p<0.01) as coping reactions compared to Caucasians. Using ordinal logistic regression, the association between being African-American and the higher utilization of religion, positive reframing, planning, and denial as coping strategies remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Among individuals with epilepsy, African-Americans appear to utilize more engagement-type coping reactions when compared to Caucasians but also utilize more denial.
Authors: Briana J Taylor; Leah A Irish; Lynn M Martire; Greg J Siegle; Robert T Krafty; Richard Schulz; Martica H Hall Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2015 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 4.312