Social factors associated with behavioral problems in children with asthma.
The objective of this study was to describe the proportion of children with a behavior problem and examine which independent variables are associated with the presence of a behavior problem in a group of 392 inner-city children with asthma. Data on child asthma symptoms, medication use, health-care utilization, and school absences were obtained from the parent during a structured telephone interview. Included in the interview was a measure of behavior problems and social support questions. Children classified with a high level of asthma symptoms were more than twice as likely to experience a behavior problem than children classified with a low level of asthma symptoms (P = 0.002). Use of theophylline medication was not correlated with behavior problems (P = 0.45). Significant variables were low level of social support and high or moderate level of asthma symptoms. We have identified a group of children at risk for behavior problems, specifically in families that lack adequate social and financial resources.
Butz
A M
AM
Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Malveaux
F J
FJ
Eggleston
P
P
Thompson
L
L
Huss
K
K
Kolodner
K
K
Rand
C S
CS
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health