The effects of race, ethnicity, and gender on predictors of asthma medication adherence among early high school students

Abstract

ABSTRACT We evaluated the moderating effects of gender on predictors of asthma medication adherence, and whether the moderating effects of gender differed by race and ethnicity. Adolescents with asthma(N = 62) on daily medication and their caregivers were enrolled in a longitudinal investigation of family asthma management across the transition to high school. Participants were on average 13.7 years old (SD = 0.6) and 62.7% were male. Forty percent were non-Latino white (NLW), 23.7% Black/African American, and 37.3% Latino. Adherence was objectively monitored. Family cohesion and medication beliefs were assessed at 8th and 10th grades. Favorable medication beliefs were associated with higher adherence among males, and higher family cohesion was related to higher adherence among females. Gender effects were moderated by race and ethnicity. Males had lower adherence than females among NLW participants and Latino participants. Among Black participants, males had higher adherence relative to females. Intersectional aspects of adolescent race, ethnicity, and gender may relate to medication adherence during the high school transition.