Study of the emotional adjustment of the caregiver–patient dyad to bronchial asthma in adolescence

Abstract

AbstractAimThis study aimed to investigate the impact of bronchial asthma‐related factors on the emotional well‐being of adolescents with bronchial asthma and their primary caregivers.BackgroundBronchial asthma is a common chronic disease in childhood and adolescence that can have a psychological impact on both patients and their primary caregivers.MethodsThe study used a cross‐sectional design and included 150 patient–caregiver dyads diagnosed with bronchial asthma, aged between 12 and 16 years and collected between 2018 and 2020. It assessed the emotional adjustment of both patients and caregivers and recorded variables related to the disease. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted to perform statistical analyses.ResultsCaregivers had higher anxiety and depression scores than patients. Good adherence to treatment was necessary for the emotional adjustment of the dyad. Controlled asthma, good adherence to treatment and a reduction in medical treatment were the primary predictors of emotional adjustment.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of assessing anxiety and depression levels in both patients and caregivers because the presence of these symptoms can lead to the misuse of medication, inadequate inhalation techniques, the omission of medication and reduced confidence in controlling asthma symptoms.