Anxiety and Depression in Older Adolescents With Long-Standing Asthma: The Role of Illness Uncertainty

Abstract

This study examined the differential contribution of illness uncertainty to self-reported anxiety and depression in a sample of older adolescents with childhood-onset asthma. Fifty-six individuals completed measures of illness uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. In addition, objective assessments of illness severity were obtained via a semistructured interview and pulmonary function test. Results revealed that illness uncertainty contributed significant variance to anxiety after statistically controlling the effects of demographic and disease parameters and depressive symptomatology; illness uncertainty did not contribute significant variance to depression. Findings suggest that interventions should target illness uncertainty and psychosocial education, as well as early identification and treatment of anxiety in this understudied population.