Abstract
The primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of bullying in children
with epilepsy compared with their healthy peers and peers with chronic disease. Children
with epilepsy were compared with healthy children and a cohort of children with chronic
kidney disease (CKD). The following self-report questionnaires were completed: Revised
Olweus Bully/Victim, Piers–Harris Self-Concept Scale, Revised Child Manifest Anxiety
Scale, Child Depression Index, and Social Skills Rating System. Children with epilepsy
were more frequently victims of bullying (42%) than were healthy controls (21%) or
children with CKD (18%) (P = 0.01). Epilepsy factors such as early age at seizure onset, seizure type, and refractory
epilepsy were not found to be predictors of victim status. Surprisingly, poor social
skills, increased problem behaviors, poor self-concept, depression, and anxiety did
not correlate with bully victim status. The relatively high prevalence of bullying
behaviors in these children is concerning and, from a clinical standpoint, requires
greater research specifically addressing peer relationships and consideration of the
implementation of anti-bullying measures and coping strategies for children with epilepsy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 7,
2009
Received in revised form:
June 1,
2009
Received:
April 7,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
