Coping experiences of school-age children with asthma and their primary caregivers within Walsh's family resilience framework: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases among children worldwide. Its recurrent exacerbations and long-term caregiving demands exert significant psychological and physical burdens on both affected children and their caregivers. Family resilience plays a crucial role in alleviating these burdens and promoting adaptive coping; However, existing research has paid limited attention to families affected by childhood asthma, and few studies have explored the specific disease-coping processes of school-age children and their primary caregivers from a dual parent-child perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the illness-related coping experiences of school-age children with asthma and their primary caregivers within Walsh's family resilience framework.

METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 participants from 18 families in a children's hospital in China, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method.

RESULTS: Four overarching themes and fourteen subthemes emerged: (1) Impact of adversity, (2) Internal family support, (3) External family support, (4) Transformation growth. The findings revealed that a stable belief system and sustained emotional support are key factors in facilitating positive family adaptation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of a dyadic management approach involving both children with asthma and their primary caregivers in the process of family resilience.

IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals should assess families' resilience stages and provide targeted support in beliefs, roles, and communication to promote adaptation and growth.