What About Your Friends? Exploring Asthma-Related Peer Interactions

Abstract

Purpose. 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.

• asthma
• children
• disease management
• peer relationships
• school-based

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Noreen M. Clark for her review and for allowing us to conduct this study using the Partnership to Control Asthma in Public Schools data. We thank Dr. Mary Janevic and Ms. Margaret Wilkin for their review and thoughtful feedback. The study presented here was supported by the Lung Division of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant HR-56028.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.