Correlation of family environment and family functioning with life quality for children with asthma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation of family environment and family functioning with life quality for children with asthma. Methods Totally 120 asthma children were selected and divided into mild asthma group (n=71) and moderate asthma group (n=49); and 120 healthy children were selected as healthy group at the same time. 3 groups were given the Chinese version of family environment scale(FES-CV), family assessment device(FAD) and children′s subjective living quality (ISLQ). The scores of FES-CV, FAD, ISLQ of 3 groups were compared, and the correlation of FES-CV, FAD with ISLQ were analyzed. Results Besides the factor score of achievement orientation, the other factors scores of FES-CV and FAD were significantly different among the three groups(P<0.05). Compared with moderate asthma group, the scores of emotional expression, culture, entertainment in mild asthma group and healthy group were higher, and the scores of contradiction and controlled were lower (P<0.05). Compared with mild asthma group, the scores of culture in healthy group were higher, and the scores of contradiction were lower (P<0.05). FAD of mild asthma group and healthy group were lower than those of moderate asthma group (P<0.01). Factors of FAD of healthy group were lower than those of mild asthma group (P<0.05). There were significant differences on the scores of family life experience, self-awareness, depression, anxiety, body experience, cognitive component, emotional elements and total points of 3 groups (P<0.05). The scores of self-awareness, depression in mild asthma group were lower than that of healthy group; the scores of family life experience, self-awareness, depression, cognitive component and total points of moderate asthma group were lower than those of healthy group (P<0.05). ISLQ was negatively correlated with contradiction, controlling of FES-CV (r=-0.605, -0.445; P<0.05); and was positively correlated with intimacy, emotional expression, independence, culture, entertaining, moral religion, organization(r=0.345-0.628, P<0.05). ISLQ was negatively correlated with problem solving, communication, roles labor, emotional reactions, emotional involvement, behavior control and total score of FAD (r=-0.651--0.526, P<0.05). Conclusions Family environment and family functioning have closely relationship with the quality of life for children with asthma. Key words: Asthma; Children; Family environment; Family functioning; Quality of life