Asthma in college hostels: Unrecognized psychosocial burdens and management deficits

To explore the overlooked intersection between asthma management, mental well-being, and institutional responsibility among college students living in hostels, where environmental triggers and psychosocial stressors may significantly affect quality of life, academic performance, and mental health.

This article discusses environmental triggers such as poor ventilation, dampness, mold, and temperature-related conditions, as well as psychosocial stressors linked to communal living. It also examines how corticosteroid therapy, while essential for disease control, may contribute to psychiatric symptoms that further complicate adherence and daily functioning, along with stigma, embarrassment about inhaler use, and inadequate support from hostel staff during exacerbations.

These challenges collectively contribute to poor asthma control and academic decline among students living in hostels. Addressing these issues demands a shift beyond pharmacological approaches toward comprehensive institutional strategies, including environmental assessment and remediation, appropriate indoor temperature and humidity control, routine medical screening, staff training, peer support, and digital self-management tools.

By fostering awareness and integrating psychosocial support into campus health systems, colleges can create safer and more inclusive environments for students with asthma, ultimately improving both respiratory outcomes and overall well-being.