Life Fulfillment
Life fulfillment is a measure of the extent to which a person's actual life situation matches their desired life situation.
This measure is used to help determine the extent of one's wellbeing because evidence has shown that social factors alone (work, income) are poorer predictors of well being than are measures that incorporate a perceptual dimension. The 'self image discrepancy' is the discrepancy between current self-perceptions and an anticipated "self without epilepsy". This was the most important correlate of overall well being. The key lies in the nature of the interaction between the environment within which the person has developed psychologically and the stigma of having epilepsy.
Studies have generally found that people with epilepsy show a tendency to evaluate themselves somewhat negatively. Work and social relationships tend to be rated as highly important sources of life fulfillment, therefore being in work and having stable relationships reinforces that epilepsy does not necessarily mean impaired quality of life. However, people with epilepsy have been found to report feelings of low life fulfillment in the areas of employment, peace of mind and social relationships.
The interconnections between physical, social and psychological well being imply that adoption of a holistic model of epilepsy and a multidimensional approach to treatment is likely to be most effective in producing change.
FACT: Studies have found that the most powerful predictor of psychological well-being was the self-image discrepancy. The less the discrepancy between "current self" and "anticipated self-without epilepsy" (that is, the less that epilepsy was perceived as interfering with an individual's goals and aspirations), the higher the reported well-being.
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