SELF-ESTEEM OF ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS - A PILOT-STUDY

In order to evaluate the self-image of asthmatic children, we evaluated 30 children at follow-up hospital visits and 21 controls, using questions from the Tennessee Self Concept Scale Questionnaire (96 items). The main points of the results were as follows: 1. The asthmatics had a lower self-esteem in comparison to the healthy children (p = 0.038). 2. Two subgroups among the asthmatics had a relatively higher scoring of self-image: (1) those who had practiced regular sport activity (p = 0.04) and (2) those who had received preventive treatment and had been followed in the respiratory clinic in the hospital (p = 0.082). According to these findings, the recommendations for asthmatic children would include regular respiratory clinic follow-up visits in order to increase the compliance of the asthmatic child in taking the preventive treatment for his or her perennial or seasonal asthma. Most importantly, the asthmatic child or adolescent should be directed to participate in regular sport activities in one or more areas, at least during all the years of bronchial hyperactive symptomatology.