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[To how much strain are families with asthmatic children exposed?]
1Samfunnsmedisinsk forskningssenter, Statens Institutt for Folkehelse, Innherred sykehus.
Insights
Families with children experiencing bronchial asthma reported low strain, with coping challenges greatest in the initial two years post-diagnosis. Mothers experienced more strain than fathers during this early period.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Family Medicine
- Psychology
Context:
- Bronchial asthma in children presents unique challenges for family dynamics.
- Understanding familial strain is crucial for comprehensive pediatric care.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the long-term coping mechanisms and strain experienced by families of asthmatic children.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence and nature of coping problems and strain experienced by families of children diagnosed with bronchial asthma.
- To identify specific periods of increased familial strain following asthma diagnosis.
- To compare the levels of strain reported by mothers and fathers.
Summary:
- A study surveyed families of children with bronchial asthma, with 42 families completing questionnaires on coping and strain.
- Results indicated a low prevalence of coping problems and strain at the time of assessment.
- Increased coping difficulties and strain were observed during the first two years after asthma onset, with mothers reporting higher strain than fathers.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the critical early period post-asthma diagnosis for family support interventions.
- This research informs healthcare providers on potential areas of familial distress, enabling targeted support.
- Understanding gender-specific strain can lead to more tailored family-centered care strategies for pediatric asthma.
Abstract:
Children with bronchial asthma may have coping problems which involve the whole family. The aim of this study was to find out what strain such families may experience. A questionnaire was sent to all children who, during a five year period, were registered as having a diagnosis of bronchial obstruction in the Department of Paediatrics, Innherred Hospital, Norway. The parents of a sample of the children were interviewed, and the parents of 42 children also answered a questionnaire about coping problems and strain. The results showed that the prevalence of coping problems and strain was low for these families at the time of the interview. Coping problems were greater during the first two years after asthma debut. Mothers felt more strain than the fathers during the two first years.