Mental, emotional, and social problems among school children with asthma.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To use representative population chronic disease and risk factor data to investigate the relationship between asthma and social factors in school-age children.

METHODS:
Representative cross-sectional data for children 5 to 15 years of age were collected from 2002 to June 2007 (n = 4,611) in the South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System (SAMSS) using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the variables that were associated with asthma among children.

RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of self-reported asthma among children 5 to 15 years of age was 18.6% (95% CI = 17.5-19.8). Children with asthma were more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem, have been unhappy at school, have been absent from school in the last month, have fair or poor overall health and well-being, have ongoing pain or chronic illness, and less likely to have a group of friends to play with. Asthma was also more prevalent among males and less likely to occur in children from households where the gross annual income was greater than $AU80,000.

CONCLUSIONS:
Children with asthma were more likely to be treated for a mental health problem and demonstrate more negative social outcomes as well as poorer overall health and well-being. Asthma management plans need to be sensitive to these psychosocial factors for adequate care of these vulnerable young patients.

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Author information

Author/s: Collins, Joanne E (JE); Gill, Tiffany K (TK); Chittleborough, Catherine R (CR); Martin, A James (AJ); Taylor, Anne W (AW); Winefield, Helen (H);

Affiliation: Department of Health, Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, South Australia. joanne.collins(-atsign-)adelaide.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma (J Asthma), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 45 (issue 6) : pp 489-93

Dates: Created 2008/07/09; Completed 2008/08/05;

PMID: 18612902, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Asthma - complications; psychology
Child
Child Behavior Disorders - complications
Female

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