The role of parental coping in children with asthma's psychological well-being and asthma-related quality of life

Abstract

Objective: The primary purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between parental coping and children with asthma's psychological well-being and asthma-related quality of life (ArQL). Methods: Eighty-nine mother-child dyads with a child with asthma ranging in age from 8 to 12-years old participated. During baseline and 6 month follow-up visits, children completed questionnaires assessing anxiety and ArQL; mothers completed questionnaires assessing coping, ArQL, an index of recent stressors, and demographic/medical history forms. Results: Mothers who relied more on active coping strategies at baseline had children with better ArQL 6 months later, and those who relied on more avoidance coping strategies at baseline had children with poorer ArQL of life 6 months later. Conclusions: These results reveal that maternal coping plays an important role in the ArQL of children with asthma. Implications for interventions aimed at improving the physical and mental health of children with asthma are discussed. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved.