The association between mental health problems and asthma among European school children

• James Goldin ^[1] ; Florence Bodeau-Livinec ^[3] ; Dietmar Goelitz ^[4] ; Adina Bitfoi ^[5] ; Mauro Giovanni Carta ^[6] ; Ceren Koc ^[7] ; Sigita Lesinskiene ^[8] ; Zlatka Mihova ^[2] ; Roy Otten ^[9] ; Viviane Kovess-Masfety ^[10]
  1. [1] Columbia University

     Columbia University

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] New Bulgarian University

     New Bulgarian University

     Bulgaria

     
  3. [3] Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sante Publique (EHESP) Paris, France; Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F ‑35000 Rennes, France
  4. [4] Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Theology, Nunberg, Germany
  5. [5] Consultant Psychiatrist - Albion Place, Maidstone, UK
  6. [6] Centro di Psichiatria di Consulenza e Psicosomatica Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
  7. [7] Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
  8. [8] Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
  9. [9] Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Pluryn, Research & Development, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
  10. [10] Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; LPPS, University of Paris, Paris, France

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• Localización: European journal of psychiatry, ISSN 0213-6163, Vol. 37, Nº 4, 2023
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background and objectives: To examine the prevalence of two ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) asthma indicators in 7 European countries and their relationship with mental health disorders in children 6−12 years.

    Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 5712 school children aged 6−12 years using a video Selfadministered instrument: Dominic Interactive and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents and teachers. Asthma indicators were 12 month “Wheezing or whistling in the chest” (WWC) and “Severe Asthma” (SA) based on number of attacks of wheezing, sleep disturbance due to wheezing, and limits to speech.

    Results: On average 7.31% of the children had WWC, from 15.09% in Turkey to 1.32% in Italy; SA 2.22% on average ranged from 4.78% in Turkey to 0% in Italy. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) from child self-reports was significantly associated with WWC and SA even after adjustment for covariates. Based on parent and teacher combined reports, emotional problems were found to have significant associations with 12-month WWC after adjustment, as well as “any problems” which summarized externalizing and internalizing disorders Emotional, hyperactivity, conduct disorders were not associated with SA.

    Conclusion: Asthma indicators very much differ across countries. Asthma indicators are associated with childhood GAD. Childhood self-reported mental health seems more related to Asthma indicators than parents/teachers combined reports.