Childhood Asthma Affecting More Than Just Breathing

Findings suggest that among children with and without asthma from urban environments, social functioning is related to both depression and anxiety. Specifically, children with higher levels of anxiety and/or depression were more likely to have poorer interpersonal relations with others, feeling as though other children do not like them, do not respect them, and/or do not want to play with them. They also may experience more stress associated with social interactions and have fewer friends than children without internalizing problems. "The results of this study reinforce the importance of appropriate mental health training for nurses and other health care providers who come into contact with children in urban community health centers," says the study's lead author, Jennifer Bender Berz.

As many as 9 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma, making it one of the most common chronic illnesses among children.

This article is published in the October issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

Jennifer Bender Berz, MA, MEd, is a Doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Education in Human Development & Psychology with specialization in Risk and Prevention.

About the Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, the official publication of the Association of Child Psychiatric Nursing (ACAPN) Division of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN), is the only nursing journal to focus exclusively on issues of child and adolescent mental health around the world. As a primary resource for health professionals doing clinical practice, teaching or research in pediatric and psychiatric care, the journal includes peer-reviewed, original articles from a wide range of contributors in a broad variety of settings.

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