This study aimed to describe demographic, seizure, and family characteristics associated with good and poor adaptation to childhood epilepsy and contrast them with demographic, asthma, and family characteristics associated with good and poor adaptation to childhood asthma. Children with asthma were selected as a comparison sample because epilepsy and asthma are both chronic medical conditions that are characterized by unpredictable episodes that generally require regular intake of medication and regular visits to a physician. Data were gathered from the children (ages 8-12), their mothers, and their school teachers. The theoretical framework for the selection of family characteristics was the Double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation and Adjustment in which three factors affecting coping are family demands or stressors on the family, family adaptive resources, and family definition or attitudes toward the condition and its impact. Results showed that family strength variables were strong predictors of child adaptation to both epilepsy and asthma. The mother's attitude was the strongest predictor of child adaptation for asthma but was not a strong predictor for epilepsy. (14 references.) (JDD)