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

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.