THE IMPACT OF EPILEPSY ON EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

Abstract

The underlying premise of this thesis is that illness occurs not in a vacuum but in a web of social relationships. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the incidence and prevalence of negative societal reaction towards the employment of people with epilepsy in the form of enacted stigma. The sufferers' perception of their epilepsy, which is felt stigma is also examined. Scambler and Hopkins (1986) drew a distinction between enacted and felt stigma. Enacted stigma refers to episodes of discrimination against the epileptics. Whereas felt stigma is defined as the shame associated with being epileptic and the fear of enacted stigma. In this thesis, the salience of epilepsy on employees with epilepsy will be explored by measuring their stress level at work that is apart from the usual work stress. Finally, the coping strategies of strategies of the epileptics in mitigating the stressful effects of epilepsy via their social support network will be explored. The results of the study have shown that felt stigma is more prevalent than enacted stigma and this is consistent with overseas research studies. The study also brings to light the consequences of disclosure and concealment of illness to employers and colleagues. The disclosure or concealment of condition to people such as work supervisors and immediate colleagues have implications on the sufferers' quality of mental health and the level of their support received at work. Epilepsy is a lifelong, chronic disorder and management of its care should focus on the psycho-social impact of epilepsy instead of merely medical care.