title: Ethnic differences in caregiver quality of life in pediatric asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine ethnic and site differences in quality of life (QOL) in a sample of Latino (Puerto Rican [PR] and Dominican) and non-Latino white caregivers of children with asthma in mainland US and Island PR. We also investigated ethnic and site differences in associations between caregiver QOL and indicators of asthma morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and eighty-seven children with asthma (7-16 years of age) and their primary caregivers participated in the study. Primary caregivers completed a measure of QOL, child asthma control, and emergency department utilization, among other measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethnic and site differences were found on total QOL scores (ΔF(1,783) = 29.46, p < .001). Island PR caregivers reported worse QOL scores than Rhode Island (Rl) Latino and non-Latino white caregivers; Rl Latino caregivers reported significantly worse QOL scores than non-Latino white caregivers. In Rl Latino and Island PR children, worse caregiver QOL was associated with asthma that was not in control and with one or more emergency department visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino caregivers may be experiencing a greater level of burden related to their child's asthma than non-Latino white caregivers. Caregiver QOL in pediatric asthma may be a reflection of broader contextual stress that some Latino caregivers experience on a daily basis (e.g., cultural beliefs, acculturation). Future research should continue to investigate mechanisms that explain the burden associated with pediatric asthma in Latino families, as well as whether QOL assessments should consider the impact of everyday stressors on caregiver QOL in pediatric asthma.
authors.affiliation: Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Robin_Everhart@brown.edu
authors.forename: Robin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Everhart
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koinis-Mitchell
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: McQuaid
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kopel
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seifer
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fritz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012237:Rhode Island; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data