Children's perspectives on coping with asthma

Little is known about how children with asthma perceive their own ability to cope with asthma symptoms. A descriptive study of children with asthma (N = 78) attending a camp in the Midwest sought to identify the frequency and effectiveness of coping strategies that school-age children use when having a problem with asthma. A self-report instrument, the Schoolagers' Coping Strategies Inventory (SCSI), was used to measure coping strategies from the children's perspective. Results indicated that 4 of the 5 most effective strategies were also used most frequently, including "try to relax or stay calm," "watch TV or listen to music," "do something about it," and "say I'm sorry or tell the truth." Self-report information about coping strategies adds important data to nurses' assessment of children with asthma.