Examination of psychological resilience and self-esteem in adolescents having siblings with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological resilience and self-esteem among healthy adolescents who have siblings diagnosed with epilepsy.

METHODS

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2024 at Muş State Hospital. The sample consisted of 126 healthy adolescents aged 12-18 years who had siblings diagnosed with epilepsy and were receiving follow-up care at the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM).

RESULTS

The mean CYRM score was 41.32 ± 9.87, indicating moderate psychological resilience, and the mean RSES score was 2.11 ± 1.75, indicating moderate self-esteem. Psychological resilience scores were significantly higher among girls and adolescents from higher-income families, as well as those whose parents had higher educational levels and professional occupations. Self-esteem levels were higher among adolescents whose parents were university graduates or civil servants and lower among those from low-income families. Emotional responses during siblings' seizures were also associated with both outcomes; adolescents reporting compassion or sadness demonstrated higher psychological resilience and self-esteem than those reporting pity. A moderate negative correlation was found between CYRM and RSES scores, reflecting the inverse scoring structure of the RSES, in which lower scores indicate higher self-esteem.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents who have siblings with epilepsy exhibit moderate levels of psychological resilience and self-esteem compared with normative adolescent samples. Sociodemographic characteristics and emotional responses to seizures play an important role in shaping these outcomes, highlighting the need for psychosocial support strategies to strengthen resilience and self-esteem.