An Initial Examination of Religious Coping in Children With Asthma

Abstract

This study evaluated the relations between positive religious coping (PRC) and negative religious coping (NRC) strategies and adjustment in 87 children and adolescents (described as “children”) hospitalized for asthma. Children's adjustment during hospitalization and at follow-up was correlated with and regressed onto measures of PRC and NRC. After controlling for relevant variables, religious coping predicted up to 50% of the variance in adjustment measures. Religious coping also significantly predicted adjustment after controlling for established measures of secular coping. PRC did not predict adjustment as hypothesized, other than predicting spiritual growth. NRC predicted poorer adjustment during hospitalization and at follow-up, and an increase in anxiety over time suggesting potential risk to children's adjustment. Although methodological limitations are noted, these initial findings provide a foundation on which to further examine the palliative and potentially harmful effects of children's religious coping.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Dr. Abdul Bahrainwala, the nurses at Children's Hospital of Michigan, and research assistants Eileen Delaney, Kelly McConnell, and Kavita Desai for their assistance in this study.

Notes

^aData were derived from single 5-point Likert items with higher values indicated greater health, control, and perceived challenge.

^a N = 68.

∗p ≤ .05.

∗∗p ≤ .01.

∗∗∗p ≤ .001.

^aControlling for age, gender, religious importance, perceived overall health, control of asthma, and challenge of asthma.

^bControlling for age, gender, religious importance, perceived overall health, control of asthma, challenge of asthma, and secular coping strategies.

∗p ≤ .05.

∗∗p ≤ .01.

∗∗∗p ≤ .001.

^aControlling for age, gender, religious importance, perceived overall health, control of asthma, and challenge of asthma, and adjustment criterion during hospitalization.

^bControlling for age, gender, religious importance, perceived overall health, control of asthma, challenge of asthma, adjustment criterion during hospitalization, and secular coping strategies.

∗p ≤ .05.

∗∗p ≤ .01.