title: What about your friends? Exploring asthma-related peer interactions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  School-based asthma interventions have been shown to be effective, but many may not be sensitive to the influence of peer interactions in shaping asthma-related emotional experiences. This exploratory study describes associations between peer interactions and asthma-related emotional experiences, asthma control, and outcomes among elementary-aged children with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data come from the baseline assessment of a randomized trial evaluating the effect of a school-based asthma intervention. Univariate and multivariate statistics were completed to examine associations between peer interactions and asthma-related variables of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred and thirty-five caregiver and child interviews were used in the analysis. Both males and females were enrolled in this study, 31% had not well controlled or poorly controlled asthma and 44% reported taking asthma medications. Overall, 26% of children talked to friends about asthma. Females were significantly more likely to talk to friends about asthma (p < .05) and more likely to report that they were worried, concerned, or troubled about asthma (p < .01). Significant differences in emotional quality of life between males and females were also found. Children who reported talking to friends about asthma were more likely to report teasing about asthma (OR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.57, 3.89) and to report that friends help with their asthma (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.07, 3.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School-based asthma interventions should be sensitive to emotional-related outcomes associated with asthma and the influence of asthma-related peer interactions. Providing children with communication strategies for disclosure of asthma status to peers that result in more supportive interactions may be needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Petteway
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Minal R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011788:Quality of Life; D012572:School Health Services; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support