Family and child responses to asthma symptoms and associations with sleep in urban children with asthma: Does child weight matter?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Family asthma management is linked to children’s sleep, yet it is unclear how child and family responses to asthma symptoms affect sleep, particularly for children with overweight/obesity. We evaluated the associations between family asthma management and sleep, and whether these relationships varied by child weight status (healthy weight, overweight/obesity) among 188 children (aged 7–9; 51% Latino, 33% Black/African American, 15% non-Latino White) with persistent asthma from urban environments. Family asthma management was assessed using semi-structured interviews, sleep was assessed via actigraphy, and BMI percentiles and BMI z-scores were calculated from objective height and weight measurements. More effective family asthma management and symptom response were related to better sleep for children with a higher BMIz. Findings suggest that children with comorbid asthma and obesity from urban environments need multicomponent interventions to improve sleep.