title: Preliminary evidence for the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between stress and asthma exacerbations in children, suggesting that interventions to reduce stress may improve both psychosocial quality of life and disease course. Here, we examine the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two trials were conducted. Cohort 1 (n = 11) was recruited from the community and attended intervention sessions at an urban university. Cohort 2 (n = 7) was school based and recruited from an African American charter school. Six individual intervention sessions focused on psychoeducation about asthma, stress, and emotions; problem-solving and coping skills training; and relaxation training paired with physiological feedback. Pre- and post-intervention stress, mood, and lung function data were collected. Satisfaction surveys were administered after intervention completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention was rated as highly acceptable by participating families. Feasibility was much stronger for the school-based than the university-based recruitment mechanism. Initial efficacy data suggest that both cohorts showed pre- to post-intervention improvements in lung function, perceived stress, and depressed mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings provide evidence for the feasibility of offering asthma-related stress management training in a school setting. Initial findings offer support for future, large-scale efficacy studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. KAL45@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skoner
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koehrsen
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Rhonda K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganley
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Marsland
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012574:Schools; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population