| This study examines the role of psychosocial factors affecting pediatric asthma and its treatment. Particular attention is given to caregiver depression, illness perception, communication with the physician, and health care utilization. Study participants were recruited from the pediatric clinics of a university hospital in New York City. The study found that caregivers experience high levels of depressive symptoms and high levels of role overload. Relationships were demonstrated between depressive symptoms, role overload, economic stress, perception of personal control, the relationship with the physician, belief in the efficacy of treatment and the caregiver's ability to perceive the child's asthma as a coherent illness. The study did not find an association between depression and emergency room use or hospitalizations that was expected based on earlier published studies. |
