title: The role of caregivers' depressive symptoms and asthma beliefs on asthma outcomes among low-income Puerto Rican children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and asthma beliefs (self-efficacy and empowerment), child asthma outcomes, and caregiver's quality of life among Puerto Rican caregivers of children with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The caregivers of 221 children with persistent bronchial asthma were stratified into those with no/low or high levels of depressive symptoms. Differences between the groups in caregiver self-efficacy, family empowerment, child asthma outcomes, and quality of life were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers with more depressive symptoms reported lower self-efficacy, less empowerment, less symptom-free days and nights for their children, and a lower quality of life compared to caregivers with no or fewer depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive symptoms among Puerto Rican caregivers were associated with asthma beliefs, children's asthma symptoms, and caregiver quality of life. Our findings reinforce the importance of physician screening skills in recognizing caregiver depression in parents of asthma patients.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Edna Acosta
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rand
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011203:Poverty; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome