An application of the Biobehavioral Family Model: Examining the impact of maternal depression on child asthma mediated by insecure attachment and child depression.

Objective: Child asthma disparities are prevalent in socio-economically stressed single-parent families. Stress impacts childhood asthma mediated by immune and autonomic pathways, but specific family stress pathways are not well established. This study tests the hypothesis, derived from a version of the Biobehavioral Family Model, that single parent maternal depression impacts child asthma mediated by insecure attachment and child depression.

Effects of paternal and maternal depressive symptoms on child internalizing symptoms and asthma disease activity: mediation by interparental negativity and parenting.

This study tested a hypothesized model of the relationships among parental depressive symptoms, family process (interparental negativity and negative parenting behavior), child internalizing symptoms, and asthma disease activity. A total of 106 children with asthma, aged 7 to 17, participated with their fathers and mothers. Parental depressive symptoms were assessed by self-report.

Depressed children with asthma evidence increased airway resistance: "vagal bias" as a mechanism?

Background: Depression is prevalent in pediatric asthma, and implicated in asthma morbidity and mortality. Pathways linking stress, depression, and asthma are unknown.

Objectives: To examine, under controlled laboratory conditions, pathways by which depressive states affect airway function via autonomic dysregulation.

Testing the Biobehavioral Family Model in pediatric asthma: pathways of effect.

This study uses a laboratory-based multiinformant, multimethod approach to test the hypothesis that a negative family emotional climate (NFEC) contributes to asthma disease severity by way of child depressive symptoms, and that parent-child relational insecurity mediates the effect. Children with asthma (n = 199; aged 7-17; 55% male) reported parental conflict, parent-child relational security, and depressive symptoms. Parent(s) reported demographics, asthma history, and symptoms.

Maternal depression and parenting in relation to child internalizing symptoms and asthma disease activity.

This study tested a hypothesized model of the relationship between maternal depression and child psychological and physical dysfunction mediated by parenting and medication adherence. A sample of 242 children with asthma, aged 7 to 17, participated with their mothers. Maternal depression was assessed by self-report, and parenting was observed during family interaction tasks.

Family relational factors in pediatric depression and asthma: pathways of effect.

Objective: This study tested a multilevel biobehavioral family model proposing that negative family emotional climate contributes to child depressive symptoms, which in turn contribute to asthma disease severity. Parent-child relational insecurity is proposed as a mediator.

Method: Children with asthma (N = 112; ages 7-18; 55% male) reported relational security, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Reliability and validity of the Asthma Trigger Inventory applied to a pediatric population.

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of the Asthma Trigger Inventory (ATI) applied to a pediatric population.

Method: Children with asthma (N = 272, 56% male, age 7-17) and their primary caregivers answered together an asthma trigger inventory, ATI (Ritz, Steptoe, Bobb, Harris, & Edwards, 2006) developed for adults. Cronbach's alpha, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical regression, and correlations of the ATI subscales with skin prick tests, psychological questionnaires, and disease severity were used to assess the psychometric properties of the ATI.

Family emotional climate, depression, emotional triggering of asthma, and disease severity in pediatric asthma: examination of pathways of effect.

Objectives: (a) To assess emotional triggering of pediatric asthma and ascertain its contribution to disease morbidity and functional status; (b) to test whether negative family emotional climate (NFEQ) is associated with depressive and/or anxious symptoms and emotional triggering of asthma attacks in the child.

Method: Children with asthma (N = 272, 56% male, age 7-17) and their primary caregivers answered together an Asthma Trigger Inventory (Ritz, Steptoe, Bobb, Harris, & Edwards, 2006). Children reported on anxious (STAIC) and depressive (CDI) symptoms and on asthma-related quality of life (PAQLQ).