ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to examine the relationships between current asthma and anxiety and family resilience and overall health status in US adolescents. METHODS: Data were from parents of adolescents (12-17 years) who completed the 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Examined variables included: current asthma and anxiety diagnoses, family resilience, child health status, number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), family poverty, parent education, and child demographic factors. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: Findings indicated that compared to adolescents with high resilience scores, adolescents with anxiety only and comorbid asthma and anxiety were more likely to have moderate or low family resilience scores than adolescents with no asthma or anxiety. Compared with adolescents with an excellent/very good health status, youth with asthma only, anxiety only, and asthma and anxiety had higher odds of having good or fair/poor health status than adolescents with no asthma or anxiety. Among those with current diagnoses, adolescents with asthma only were less likely to have moderate and low resilience scores than adolescents with asthma and anxiety. Adolescents with asthma only and anxiety only were also at reduced odds to have good or fair/poor health status than those with comorbid diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that anxiety is linked to family resilience of adolescents with and without comorbid asthma. Experiencing a higher number of ACEs was a risk factor for lower family resilience scores and health status. Future research should consider the impact of other mental health problems and family resilience and health status.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/psychology , Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/psychology , Family/psychology , Resilience, Psychological , Adolescent , Adverse Childhood Experiences/psychology , Adverse Childhood Experiences/statistics & numerical data , Child , Child Health , Female , Health Status , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Patient Acuity , Sociodemographic FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Children living with chronic illnesses may rely on family for social support during hospitalization. Understanding child and parent perspectives about the nature of the sibling and family relationships during hospitalization will provide information about these relationships during a stressful period. METHODS: English-speaking children diagnosed with chronic illnesses, siblings, and parents participated. They were residing at a Ronald McDonald House. A qualitative study using interviews with children and parents was completed. RESULTS: Seventeen mothers, eight children with illnesses, and twelve siblings completed interviews. Children with illnesses benefitted from connections with parents. Mothers believed that siblings and the ill child benefitted from being in close contact. Siblings were worried about their brother or sister with an illness, and despite this, the family was coping well. Siblings helped with the medical regimen for a brother or sister with a chronic illness. Trying to help the family function in a routine or "normal" fashion was important to children with illnesses and siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Family connection was critical for children with chronic illnesses during hospitalization. Findings highlighted the importance of sibling support as a factor promoting child and family resilience when a child is facing medical procedures.
