title: Asthma and adaptive functioning among homeless kindergarten-aged children in emergency housing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children who experience homelessness have elevated rates of asthma, a risk factor for other problems. Purpose. Examine rates of asthma and its relation to health care use and adaptive functioning among young children staying in family emergency shelters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and caregivers (N = 138) completed assessments in shelters, including measurement of child cognitive functioning, parent report of child health care service utilization and asthma diagnosis, and teacher report of child school functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asthma diagnosis was reported for 21% of 4-to-6-year-old children, about twice the national and state prevalences. Children with asthma used more health care services and had worse peer relationships. Asthma did not relate to cognitive test performance or subsequent academic performance, or to other behavior problems in school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rates of asthma remain an important issue for children in emergency family housing, a context with high levels of child risk for toxic stress exposure and developmental problems.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cutuli
authors.forename: Janette E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Herbers
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lafavor
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahumada
authors.forename: Ann S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Masten
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Oberg
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010379:Peer Group; D015995:Prevalence; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data