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Family dysfunction in asthma: a prospective study of illness development
P A Gustafsson1, B Björkstén, N I Kjellman
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Dysfunctional family interactions appear to be a consequence, not a cause, of infant wheezing. While common early on, these patterns worsened when children developed symptoms like wheezing, eczema, or infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Wheezing in infancy is a common concern with complex etiology.
- The influence of psychosocial factors and family dynamics on infant health is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the role of psychosocial factors, specifically family interaction patterns, in the development of wheezing in infants.
- To determine if family dysfunction precedes or follows the onset of infant respiratory symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 100 infants with a family history of allergy.
- Standardized family assessments of adaptability and cohesion at 3 and 18 months.
- Classification of children's health status (healthy, wheezing, infections, eczema) based on parental records and physical exams.
Main Results:
- Dysfunctional family interaction was common at 3 months but did not predict illness onset.
- Families of children who developed wheezing, recurrent infections, or eczema showed significantly higher rates of dysfunctional interaction at 18 months compared to families of healthy children.
- Specifically, 52% of families with infants experiencing obstructive symptoms (wheezing) were dysfunctional at 18 months.
Conclusions:
- Dysfunctional family interaction appears to be a result, rather than a cause, of wheezing and other common infant illnesses.
- The development of symptoms in infants may contribute to increased family stress and subsequent dysfunctional interaction patterns.