Parent-child life events: relation to treatment in asthma

Children and adolescents with asthma were divided into groups of responders (N = 22) and nonresponders (N = 22) on the basis of their response to medical management. The mothers and children from both groups were given scales to measure life events and perceptions of behavior style. The effects of life event stresses and parent-child relations on the response to medical treatment were evaluated for each patient. Comparisons were made on the basis of response-nonresponse, sex, and age. Several patterns of relationship to treatment outcome were identified. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of coping skills, psychological defenses, and the availability of social support systems. A conceptual scheme for treatment approaches is presented.