Abstract
In this study asthmatic and nonasthmatic children of elementary school age were compared. They were matched for similar familial and individual constitutional allergic backgrounds and similar sociodemographic data. In addition to testing the children, the mothers were tested for their feelings about the children, the fathers and their own childhood family. The main purpose in this part of a wider study on childhood asthma, was to measure maternal feelings towards asthmatic children by determining with which figures in her childhood family the mothers identify the children. There were no differences between the two groups of children in birth order, number of siblings of the mothers and numbers of siblings of the children. The asthmatic children were clearly more frequently identified with positive figures and less with negative figures from the mother's childhood family than the nonasthmatic children. This finding was discussed in relation to previously described findings on these asthmatic children and their mothers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Miller H, Baruch D: The emotional problems of childhood and their relation to asthma.AMAJ Dis Child 93: 242–247, 1957.
Sperling M: Asthma in children.J Child Psych 7: 44–58, 1968.
Groen JJ: Present status of the psychosomatic approach to bronchial asthma. Chapter 12. In O Hill (Ed)Modern trends in psychosomatic medicine, vol. 3. London: Butterworth & Co., 1976.
Mahler MS, Pine F, Bergman A: The mother's reaction to her toddler's drive for individuation. In EJ Anthony, T. Benedek (Eds).In-Parenthood, Boston: Little Brown & Co. 257–274, 1970.
Meijer A: Psychological factors in maternal grandparents of asthmatic children.Child Psychiat Human Dev 6: 15–25, 1975.
Meijer A: Generation chain relationships in families of asthmatic children.Psychosom 17:213–217, 1976.
Meijer A: Sources of dependency in asthmatic children.Psychosom 19:351–353, 1978.
Meijer A: Emotional disorders of asthmatic children.Child Psychiat Human Dev 9: 161–169, 1979.
Meijer A: Conflictual maternal attitudes towards asthmatic children. PsychotherPsychosom In press.
Anthony EJ, Bene E: A technique for the objective assessment of the child's family relationship.J Ment Sci 103:541–544, 1957.
Buros OK: The seventh mental measurements yearbook. Highland Park, NJ: Gryphon Press, 1972.
Meijer A: Asthma predictors in infantile atopic dermatitis.J Asthma Res 181–188, 1975.
Meijer A: High risk factors for childhood asthma.Ann Allergy 37, 119–122, 1976.
Weiss JH: Birth order and asthma in children.J Psychosom Res 12:137–140, 1968.
Graham PJ, Rutter ML, Yule W, Pless IB: Childhood asthma: a psychosomatic disorder?Brit J Prev Soc Med 21:78–85, 1967.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by a N.I.M.H. research training grant in psychiatry at Boston University Medical Center and by the Natalie Zucker Fund for Child Psychiatry. The author expresses his gratitude to Drs. P.H. Knapp, S. Fisher, M.A. Jacobs, S. Levine, S. Silman and to J.D. Meijer, M.A. (Oxon), M.P.H. for their guidance and assistance in the preparation of this paper. The valuable statistical helo of Mrs. I. Ronen. M.A. - . A -is appreciated.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meijer, A. Maternal feelings towards asthmatic children. Child Psych Hum Dev 11, 33–40 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705868
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705868