title: Family rituals as a protective factor for children with asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine how one aspect of family life, notably family rituals and routines, may protect children with asthma from anxiety-related symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six families (43 children with asthma, 43 healthy comparison children) participated in the study. Children completed measures of anxiety (Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale) and health. Parents completed measures of stress (Parenting Stress Index), family rituals (Family Routines Questionnaire), and family health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Families that reported more meaning in their family routines had children who reported lower levels of anxiety. Mother endorsement of family ritual meaning and father endorsement of family ritual routine were most strongly related to lower levels of anxiety. Support for the protective function of meaningful family rituals was stronger when a general health stress model was used rather than the presence or absence of asthma alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family rituals may serve a protective function for children with asthma under conditions of heightened parenting stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markson
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Fiese
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires