Family chaos and depression can make it more difficult for children to manage asthma

According to a new article published in the newspaper, a chaotic household, as well as depression in children and parents, are risk factors for the worst asthma outcomes among urban minority children pediatrics.

"Higher levels of chaos, including lack of organization or well-established routines, seem to be a pathway that links parental depression to control of asthma in children, worse control," said the Dr. Sally Weinstein, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. (UIC) College of Medicine and first author on paper.

"When a parent is depressed, it's harder to keep the family routine running smoothly, but it's also harder to handle the daily demands of taking care of your child's asthma, which may require multiple medications and avoid triggers. "

Urban minority youth have higher asthma rates and are more likely to have poorer or even asthma-dying outcomes compared to the general population. Although most research has focused on drugs and prevention, researchers are just beginning to understand how psychosocial factors affect asthma and how they might contribute to disparities.

Several studies have shown that children with depression and anxiety have worse asthma outcomes, including more severe asthma and increased use of rescue medications. Some studies have linked parental depression to the worst effects of asthma in their children, while others have shown that family conflict is linked to higher levels of asthma severity.

In the new study, the researchers wanted to examine the interaction between the functioning of parents, children and families and the control of asthma in children among urban minority youth with uncontrolled asthma. Uncontrolled asthma occurs when children exhibit excessive asthma symptoms and take emergency medications. The consequences of uncontrolled asthma can be serious.

The researchers studied the link between parental depression and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); depression of the child and symptoms of PTSD; and the control of asthma in children in 223 children aged 5 to 16 years and one of their parents.

The team collected data on depression, PTSD and family chaos through in-person interviews before the start of the study intervention by parents and children .

Family chaos was badessed using a 15-question questionnaire asking participants to note the following statements: "Despite our best efforts, we always seem to be late;" "We can usually find things when we need them. "We always seem to be in a hurry;" and "Our house is a good place to relax."

They found that parental and childhood depressive symptoms (but not symptoms of post-traumatic stress) were badociated with worse control of asthma in children. Higher levels of family chaos have also been badociated with reduced asthma control in children, even when researchers controlled depression in parents and children. Overall, the results show that family chaos can explain, at least in part, how parental depression affects the control of asthma in children.

"Our findings highlight the role of family chaos in the worst consequences of asthma in children in these families," said Dr. Molly Martin, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UIC College of Medicine and Senior Research Fellow. study.

"Paediatricians and asthma specialists should consider and address the issue of depression in parents and children and provide support to optimize home routines to improve asthma control in children. "

Source: University of Illinois at Chicago

Related Articles