Work

Effect of Caregiver's Sense of Coherence on Psychological Stress and Modifiable Factors in Childhood Asthma

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In managing certain clinical chronic diseases, the sense of coherence (SOC) in salutogenic theory is continuously assessed. However, no studies have yet focused on childhood asthma, a clinical condition closely associated with effective caregiver involvement. Therefore, we aimed to assess the role of maternal SOC in children's psychological stress and other modifiable factors affecting asthma control. METHODS: This observational, case-control study included 193 children with asthma (6-10 years) and their parents. The individuals were grouped into controlled (n = 97) and uncontrolled (n = 96) asthma groups using the Childhood Asthma Control Test. Additionally, validated questionnaires were administered to the mother-child dyad. We assessed maternal SOC as a moderator of the child's psychological stress, treatment adhesion, inhalation technique, and environmental control. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to confirm the association of these variables with asthma control, and the Breslow-Day test assessed the effect of maternal SOC. RESULTS: High maternal SOC was observed in 81/97 (83.5%) and 8/96 (8.3%) patients in the controlled and uncontrolled asthma groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that high maternal SOC, early phases of psychological stress, and low exposure to aeroallergens were associated with clinical asthma control. The Breslow-Day test identified a significant interaction between high maternal SOC and children's psychological stress tolerance, treatment adhesion, and ideal inhalational technique. CONCLUSION: High maternal SOC affected psychological stress in children and primary modifiable factors, such as treatment adhesion and inhalational technique, for managing asthma in infancy.

Source: Pediatric Pulmonology

DOI: 10.1002/ppul.71529

Authors: Georgia Veras de Araújo Gueiros Lira, Giselia Alves Pontes da Silva, Patricia Gomes de Matos Bezerra, Emanuel Savio Cavalcanti Sarinho

Institutions: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira

Language: English

Topic: Asthma and respiratory diseases

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico