Parent- and Child-Reported Asthma Responsibility in School-Age Children: Examining Agreement, Disagreement, and Family Functioning

J Pediatr Health Care. 2019 Jul-Aug;33(4):386-393. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.11.005. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Abstract

Introduction: The school-age years represent a critical time for children to begin assuming shared asthma management responsibility. This study aimed to describe parent- and child-reported asthma responsibility, examine agreement and disagreement, and explore family functioning as a predictor of agreement/disagreement.

Methods: Twenty children (age range = 6-11 years) and one of their parents participated in this cross-sectional study. Parent-child dyads independently reported on their asthma management responsibility and asthma control. Parents also completed family functioning and demographic questionnaires.

Results: There was a significant difference between parent and child asthma responsibility scores (t(19) = 2.46, p < .05), indicating that children saw themselves as assuming greater responsibilities than their parents did. A regression analysis showed that collectively, family functioning predicted 74% of the variance in parent-child disagreement (F(6,15) = 4.17, p < .05).

Discussion: Family functioning may be an important factor in promoting shared management of asthma in school-age children.

Keywords: Asthma self-management; behavior control; communication; family functioning; shared management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / psychology*
  • Asthma / therapy
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family / psychology*
  • Family Conflict / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents / psychology
  • Self Care / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires