INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKING MEMORY, PSYCHOSOCIAL DIFFICULTIES, AND TEMPERAMENT CHARACTERISTICS IN CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures. However, epilepsy is not limited to seizures alone; it is also associated with various difficulties in cognitive, psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral domains. Working memory refers to the temporary storage and mental manipulation of information essential for executive functions. Temperament reflects innate patterns of emotional and behavioral response, while psychosocial difficulties refer to problems in emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment. This study aims to compare the working memory performance, temperament traits, and psychosocial difficulties of children aged 5–9 diagnosed with epilepsy to healthy peers, and to examine associations among these variables within the epilepsy group.
The participants consisted of 30 children with epilepsy and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Data were collected using the Working Memory Scale, the Temperament Scale for Children, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Children with epilepsy demonstrated lower working memory scores and higher levels of psychosocial difficulties compared to healthy peers. In temperament dimensions, attention/persistence and adaptability scores were lower, whereas sensory sensitivity and reactivity were higher in the epilepsy group. Within this group, working memory was positively associated with attention/persistence and lower sensory sensitivity, and negatively associated with psychosocial difficulties and activity level.
These findings suggest that working memory in children with epilepsy is shaped not only by neurological conditions but also by temperament traits and psychosocial factors. Multidimensional assessment approach is essential for effective early intervention and individualized support strategies.