title: Stress and quality of life in caregivers of inner-city minority children with poorly controlled asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregiver quality of life (QOL) is known to influence asthma management behaviors. Risk factors for low caregiver QOL in families of inner-city children with asthma remain unclear. This study evaluated the interrelationships of asthma control, stress, and caregiver QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from a home-based behavioral intervention for children with persistent asthma after treatment for asthma in the emergency department. Caregivers reported on baseline demographics, asthma control, asthma management stress, life stress, and QOL. Hierarchical regression analysis examined the contributions of sociodemographic factors, asthma control, asthma management stress, and life stress in explaining caregiver QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children (N = 300) were primarily African American (96%) and young (mean age, 5.5 years). Caregivers were predominantly the biological mother (92%), single (70%), and unemployed (54%). Poor QOL was associated with higher caregiver education and number of children in the home, low asthma control, and increased asthma management stress and life stress. The model accounted for 28% of variance in caregiver QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings underscore the need for multifaceted interventions to provide tools to caregivers of children with asthma to help them cope with asthma management demands and contemporary life stressors.
authors: Health Specialization, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mbellin@ssw.umaryland.edu
authors: Melissa H
authors: MH
authors: Bellin
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Kub
authors: Kevin D
authors: KD
authors: Frick
authors: Mary Elizabeth
authors: ME
authors: Bollinger
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Tsoukleris
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Walker
authors: Cassie
authors: C
authors: Land
authors: Arlene M
authors: AM
authors: Butz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population