Flourishing and family resilience among children and adolescents with epilepsy and emotional, developmental, or behavioral comorbidities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Childhood epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that poses risks for additional emotional, developmental, and behavioral comorbidities. To improve the quality of life for children with epilepsy (CWE), overall well-being needs to be addressed, including understanding how flourishing and family resilience are related to CWE, CWE and emotional, developmental, or behavioral comorbidities (CWE plus), and typical peers. Data from the 2018–2019 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey, was used to evaluate flourishing and family resilience among CWE, CWE plus, and typical peers aged 6–17 (N = 31,419). The study found that health status significantly predicted flourishing over and above sociodemographic factors. CWE were 2.71 times less likely to flourish and CWE plus were 16.13 times less likely to flourish than typical peers. The study also found that health status significantly predicted family resilience over and above sociodemographic factors. CWE were not significantly less likely than typical peers to show family resilience, but CWE plus were 1.97 times less likely to show family resilience when compared to typical peers. The findings that CWE plus were both significantly less likely to flourish and be a part of a family that demonstrates family resilience have important implications.