This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Alati, R. Articles by Lawlor, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Alati, R. Articles by Lawlor, D. A. Related Collections Anxiety Pulmonary Stress and Coping

Asthma and Internalizing Behavior Problems in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study

From the Schools of Population Health (R.A., J.M.N., G.M.W.) and Social Science (J.M.N.), The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia; Mater Children’s Hospital, Queensland, Australia (M.O.C.); South Brisbane Child & Youth Mental Health Services, Queensland, Australia (W.B.); and the Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK (D.A.L.).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Rosa Alati, PhD, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Public Health Building, Herston Rd., Herston, Queensland 4101, Australia. E-mail: r.alati{at}sph.edu.au; rosalati{at}ozemail.com.au

Objective: Clinical studies of asthmatic children have found an association between lung disease and internalizing behavior problems. The causal direction of this association is, however, unclear. This article examines the nature of the relationship between behavior and asthma problems in childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Data were analyzed on 5135 children from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes (MUSP), a large birth cohort of mothers and children started in Brisbane, Australia, in 1981. Lung disease was measured from maternal reports of asthma/bronchitis when the children were aged 5 and maternal reports of asthma symptoms when the children were aged 14. Symptoms of internalizing behaviors were obtained by maternal reports (Child Behavior Checklist) at 5 years and by maternal and children’s reports at 14 years (Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report).

Results: Although there was no association between prevalence of asthma and externalizing symptoms, asthma and internalizing symptoms were significantly associated in cross-sectional analyses at 5 and 14 years. In prospective analyses, after excluding children with asthma at 5 years, internalizing symptoms at age 5 were not associated with the development of asthma symptoms at age 14. After excluding children with internalizing symptoms at 5 years, those who had asthma at 5 years had greater odds of developing internalizing symptoms at age 14.

Conclusion: Children who have asthma/bronchitis by the age of 5 are at greater risk of having internalizing behavior problems in adolescence.

Key Words: lung disease • asthma • behavior problems • adolescence • internalizing symptoms

Abbreviations: MUSP = Mater University Study of Pregnancy; FCV = first clinic visit; YSR = Youth Self Report; CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; DSSI/SAD = Delusions-Symptoms-States-Inventory: State of Anxiety and Depression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. K. Murdock, E. M. Robinson, S. K. Adams, J. Berz, and M. J.D. Rollock Family--school connections and internalizing problems among children living with asthma in urban, low-income neighborhoods J Child Health Care, September 1, 2009; 13(3): 275 - 294. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Chida, M. Hamer, and A. Steptoe A Bidirectional Relationship Between Psychosocial Factors and Atopic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Psychosom Med, January 1, 2008; 70(1): 102 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]