Negative Metacognitive Beliefs and Perceived Stigma as Predictors of Quality of Life Among Adults with Epilepsy

Abstract

This study explored how negative thinking patterns and feelings of stigma affect the quality of life in adults with epilepsy. Forty participants completed surveys measuring their thoughts about thinking (negative metacognitive beliefs), how much stigma they felt, and different aspects of their quality of life. The results showed that people who were more aware of their thoughts tended to have better overall well-being, while those who believed their thoughts were dangerous or uncontrollable experienced more problems, especially in social situations. Similarly, those who felt a strong need to control their thoughts had lower quality of life in most areas. Feeling stigmatized—like being judged or misunderstood—was strongly linked to poorer outcomes across all parts of life. The findings suggest that both negative thought patterns and stigma play a major role in reducing the quality of life for adults with epilepsy, and addressing these issues could help improve their well-being.