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Published on: August 7, 2017
Asthma and allergies correlate with mental health problems in preschool children
Sofia Edvinsson Sollander1, Helena Fabian1, Anna Sarkadi1
1Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Preschool children with asthma or food allergies show higher risks for mental health issues. Early assessment and support are crucial for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Allergy and Immunology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Asthma and allergies are common in preschool children.
- Mental health problems in early childhood can have long-term impacts.
- The relationship between these conditions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between asthma, allergies, and mental health problems in preschool-aged children (3-5 years).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 4649 Swedish preschool children.
- Data collected via parental and teacher questionnaires on asthma, allergies, and mental health (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire).
- Logistic regression models analyzed the relationships.
Main Results:
- Children with asthma had increased odds of emotional symptoms and general mental health problems.
- Children with food allergies/intolerance showed higher odds of emotional symptoms.
- Associations remained significant after adjusting for parental background factors.
Conclusions:
- Preschool children with asthma and food allergies are at elevated risk for concurrent mental health problems.
- Screening for mental health issues is recommended for children with these conditions.
- Timely support and referrals to specialized services are essential.
Aim:
To explore the relations between asthma, allergies and mental health problems in preschool children, aged 3-5 years.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional Swedish study, we used data on 4649 children in Uppsala municipality whose parents and preschool teachers had responded to questions measuring asthma and allergies, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for assessment of mental health problems. Logistic regression models were used to explore the relations between asthma and allergies and mental health problems.
Results:
Children with asthma (8.5%) had elevated odds of having emotional symptoms as rated by parents (OR: 1.34; 1.02-1.76) and teachers (OR: 1.44; 1.09-1.91). According to parents' ratings, these children also had elevated odds of showing mental health problems in general according to the SDQ total score (OR: 1.42; 1.05-1.94). Children with food allergies or intolerance (4.4%) only had elevated odds of having emotional symptoms (OR: 1.64; 1.16-2.33), as reported by parents. These results remained significant after adjustment for parental background factors.
Conclusion:
Preschool children with asthma and food allergies or intolerance are at risk of having concurrent mental health problems. Mental health problems should be assessed in children with these disorders. Adequate support and/or referral to specialised services should be offered when needed.
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