Understanding Illness Perception in Children with Somatization and Asthma
Author Information
Author(s): Lutz Goldbeck, Silke Bundschuh
Primary Institution: University Hospital Ulm
Hypothesis
Do patients and their parents develop disease-specific health- and illness-related locus of control beliefs?
Conclusion
Clinicians should consider the differing viewpoints of patients and their parents regarding symptom control in both asthma and somatoform disorder.
Supporting Evidence
- Parents reported more internal and fatalistic locus of control beliefs compared to their children.
- Correlations between patient and caregiver reports of symptoms were low to moderate.
- No significant differences in illness locus of control beliefs were found between asthma and somatoform disorder children.
Takeaway
This study looked at how kids with asthma and somatoform disorders think about their health and how their parents see it too.
Methodology
25 patients with somatoform disorders and 25 patients with asthma completed questionnaires about their symptoms and health beliefs, while their caregivers provided parallel reports.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in parental reporting and children's symptom exaggeration may affect the accuracy of the data.
Limitations
The study may have selection bias and a small sample size, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Caucasian children aged 8 to 18, with a mix of somatoform disorders and asthma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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