The association between epilepsy self-management and perceived stigma in adults with epilepsy: a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate the association between epilepsy self-management and perceived stigma among adults with epilepsy and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with perceived stigma.Methods This cross-sectional study included 101 adults with epilepsy. Participants completed the Epilepsy Self-Management Scale and the Epilepsy Stigma Scale. Associations were examined using Spearman correlation, multiple linear regression, and LASSO regression analyses.Results A positive correlation was observed between self-management and perceived stigma (rho = 0.392, p Significance Although higher epilepsy self-management was associated with greater perceived stigma, this relationship appeared to be primarily explained by false beliefs about epilepsy. These findings highlight the importance of integrating stigma reduction strategies into self-management interventions to improve psychosocial outcomes in people with epilepsy.