The Meaning of Health to 9-, 10-, and 11-Year-Old Quicken with Chronic Asthma

Abstract

Although many studies explore the meaning of illness and symptoms to children who have chronic illnesses, few examine the meaning of health. An analysis of interviews with 71 children, aged 9–11 years, with mild to severe asthma revealed that the most common criterion they used to judge their healthiness was the ability to be active. Activity and other physical/functional abilities accounted for 46% of all responses. Other positive affective qualities, such as being happy or joyful, accounted for another 27%. The absence of asthma-specific symptoms accounted for only 9% and of general illness symptoms 5% of the total responses.