Abstract

MENDES, Marco Aurélio; SANT'ANNA, Clemax Couto  and  MARCH, Maria de Fátima Bazhuni Pombo. Stress in children and adolescents with asthma. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2013, vol.23, n.1, pp. 80-86. ISSN 0104-1282.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate stress in children and adolescents with asthma and its association with clinical and psychosocial features. METHODS: cross-sectional study conducted with asthmatic children and adolescents between 7 and 12 years old, seen at the pediatric pulmonary outpatient clinic. The Stress Childhood Scale, the Criterion of Economic Classification Brazil and a questionnaire were used to collect data. Statistical analysis was realized using the Chi-square Test, ROC curve, Fisher Test and Mann-Whitney. A logistic regression analysis model was used after univariety analysis. RESULTS: stress was detected in 38 % (19/50) of the patients, with predominance of psychological reactions. Statistical significance associations were found between stress and scholar difficulties, socioeconomic class C2 and D (p = 0,013) and asthma symptoms in a period less than or equal to 7 years (p = 0,003). These associations remained after logistic regression model. There was no statistical significance association between asthma gravity and stress. CONCLUSIONS: more than one-third of children and adolescents with asthma were stressed. This rate was higher in lower socioeconomic classes and in those patients with scholar difficulties and with symptoms of asthma in a period less than or equal to 7 years.

Keywords : psychological stress; physiological stress; asthma; quality of life; affective symptoms.

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