Parenting and restrictions in childhood epilepsy.

Purpose: From the overprotection literature, the predictive and interactional (moderation) effects of controlling and indulgent parenting on restrictions in children with epilepsy were examined.

Methods: Parents of 73 children with epilepsy completed questionnaires on parenting, restrictions, and functional status. Predictive and moderation effects were tested using multiple regression analysis. Moderation was tested with interactive computational methods.

Results: Restrictions were significantly (R(2)=.38, FΔ=6.59***, p<.001) predicted from seizure frequency (β=.24*, p<.05), functional status (β=-.42***, p<.001), and interaction between controlling and indulgent parenting (β=.28**, p<.01). Moderation occurred predominantly for high values of control: controlling parents who were not indulgent imposed fewer restrictions. In contrast, controlling parents who were indulgent imposed more restrictions.

Conclusion: Parents who were controlling and more indulgent imposed more restrictions. Clinicians should ask parents about parenting and restrictions. Future research should examine whether the current study's findings can be replicated.