title: The meaning of health to 9-, 10-, and 11-year-old children with chronic asthma.
abstract: Although many studies explore the meaning of illness and symptoms to children who have chronic illnesses, few examine the meaning of health. An analysis of interviews with 71 children, aged 9-11 years, with mild to severe asthma revealed that the most common criterion they used to judge their healthiness was the ability to be active. Activity and other physical/functional abilities accounted for 46% of all responses. Other positive affective qualities, such as being happy or joyful, accounted for another 27%. The absence of asthma-specific symptoms accounted for only 9% and of general illness symptoms 5% of the total responses.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kieckhefer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012649:Self Concept