Family Psychological Factors in Relation to Children's Asthma Status and Behavioral Adjustment at Age 4

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine whether family psychosocial factors influenced asthma development by age 4, and whether family factors and early wheezing illness were associated with behavioral adjustment at age 4. Participants were 98 children enrolled in an intervention study at 9-24 months and followed to age 4. Baseline evaluations assessed infants' respiratory illness severity, family psychosocial characteristics, and parental risk factors for asthma development. Active asthma categorization at age 4 utilized both parent report and objective data. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Caregiver single-parent status, a composite of baseline family stresses, and early wheezing illness severity were associated with active asthma at age 4. The contribution of prenatal smoke exposure and early hospitalization to active asthma varied with racial/ethnic group membership. Maternal mental health and family stresses predicted CBCL scores at age 4, whereas early illness severity and hospitalization were unrelated to CBCL scores. CBCL scores were not elevated for children with active asthma at age 4. Family factors consistent with a negative emotional environment were associated with both active asthma and adjustment problems at age 4, suggesting that both outcomes may be influenced by a common factor.

Depressed children with asthma evidence increased airway resistance: “Vagal bias” as a mechanism?

“…Sandberg et al, 52,53 in a study of children with moderate to severe asthma, found that negative life stressors were associated with increased risk of subsequent asthma exacerbations, especially against a backdrop of high chronic stress. The findings reported herein, for the scenes portraying family distress/loss, death, and dying, connect with the literature demonstrating family distress and interpersonal loss as emotional conditions highly linked to asthma morbidity 54,55 and mortality. 13 Furthermore, it was the family distress/loss scene that showed consistent associations among depressive symptoms, vagal bias, and postmovie airway resistance.…”

Impact of the Environment on Asthma Control

“…The investigators concluded that psychological factors can impact asthma onset and persistence in childhood. In another longitudinal study, Klinnert, Kaugars, Strand, and Silverira (2008) found in 98 children who enrolled in their study at 9-24 months of age that family psychological factors including caregiver single parent status and family factors consistent with a negative emotional environment were related to active asthma at age four. Unger, Cope, Kozyrskyj, and Paterson (2010) found that children with asthma who had mothers with no postsecondary education were more likely to have ETS exposure, as compared to those who had postsecondary education or higher.…”

“…Health problems, including asthma, are found to be more common in infants who experience less positive parenting and greater punitiveness; possibly because of stress (Klinnert et al, 2008;Mantymaa et al, 2003). Kozyrskyj, Mai, McGrath, Hayglass, Becker, and MacNeil (2008) conducted a birth cohort study to determine the association of continued maternal distress and asthma at age seven of over 13,000 children.…”

Hubungan Asma dengan Gangguan Perilaku pada Anak

“…8,12 Variabel tersebut dapat memengaruhi kondisi psikologis anak asma yang berperan dalam pembentukan karakter perilaku anak.…”