How are mental representations of asthma triggers and symptoms related to interpersonal risk perceptions? A psychometric investigation of caregivers of children with asthma

Bibliographic Data

ID14832850
AuthorsE A Waters (0000-0001-7402-0133, Washington University in St. Louis, corresponding author), Thorsten Pachur (0000-0001-6391-4107, Max Planck Institute for Human Development), Gabrielle Pogge (0000-0002-2204-2661, University of Florida), J Hunleth (0000-0003-4516-4407, Washington University in St. Louis), Gregory D Webster (0000-0001-7342-8444, University of Florida), David A Fedele (University of Florida), David Fedele (0000-0003-0896-910X, University of Florida), James A Shepperd (0000-0002-5329-6760, University of Florida)
Year2025
Volume40
Issue4
Pages571-593
Publication date2025-04-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology & Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0887-0446 • E-ISSN: 1476-8321
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08870446.2023.2244522
PMID37545105
OpenAlexW4385619736
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited56

Objective Parents and guardians (hereafter caregivers) make decisions for their children’s medical care. However, many caregivers of children with asthma struggle to understand their child’s illness. We used the psychometric paradigm to investigate how caregivers conceptualize, or mentally represent, asthma triggers and symptoms and how these representations are linked to perceived asthma exacerbation risk.Methods We asked 377 caregivers of children with asthma across the U.S. to rate 20 triggers or 20 symptoms along 15 characteristics. Caregivers also indicated their perceived risk of their child having an asthma exacerbation (hereafter interpersonal risk perceptions). Using principal components analysis, we extracted key dimensions underlying caregivers’ ratings on the characteristics. Then we related the triggers’ and symptoms’ scores on the dimensions to caregivers’ interpersonal risk perceptions.Results Interpersonal risk perceptions were higher for triggers with high ratings for the dimensions severe and relevant, and negative affect—yet manageable, but not chronic—yet unpredictable. Risk perceptions were also higher for symptoms with high ratings for the dimensions severe and unpredictable, and relevant and common, but not self-blame or manageable despite unknown cause.Conclusion By identifying key dimensions underlying caregivers’ mental representations of asthma triggers and symptoms, these findings can inform a new approach to asthma education

Asthma · Exacerbation · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Mental health · Perception · Psychiatry · Asthma and respiratory diseases · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology