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Anxiety and Asthma Symptoms in Urban Adolescents with Asthma: The Mediating Role of Illness Perceptions

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Twenty to 40% of adolescents with asthma experience significant symptoms of anxiety. This study examined the mediational role of illness perceptions in the relationship between anxiety and asthma symptoms in adolescents. One hundred fifty-one urban adolescents (ages 11–18) with asthma completed measures of illness perceptions, and anxiety and asthma symptoms. Using the Baron and Kenny approach and Sobel tests, we examined whether illness perceptions mediated the anxiety-asthma symptom relationship. Three illness perceptions significantly mediated the relationship between anxiety and asthma symptoms, z = 1.97–2.13, p < .05; adjusted R 2 = 0.42–0.51, p < .05. Greater anxiety symptoms were associated with perceptions that asthma negatively impacted one’s life and emotions and was difficult to control. These negative illness perceptions were, in turn, related to greater asthma symptoms. Illness perceptions helped explain the anxiety-asthma symptoms link in adolescents. Results suggest that targeting illness perceptions in adolescents with asthma and anxiety may help reduce asthma symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Grant # K23 HD052639 (Cotton, PI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Meghan E. McGrady & Yvonne Humenay Roberts

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Sian Cotton

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Sian Cotton & Michael S. Yi

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Susan L. Rosenthal

  5. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Maria Britto

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Michael S. Yi

  7. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670840, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0840, USA

    Meghan E. McGrady

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  1. Meghan E. McGrady
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  2. Sian Cotton
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  3. Susan L. Rosenthal
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  4. Yvonne Humenay Roberts
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  5. Maria Britto
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Correspondence to Meghan E. McGrady.

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McGrady, M.E., Cotton, S., Rosenthal, S.L. et al. Anxiety and Asthma Symptoms in Urban Adolescents with Asthma: The Mediating Role of Illness Perceptions. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 17, 349–356 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-010-9214-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-010-9214-3

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