ASSESSMENT OF PEER RELATIONSHIPS IN CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA

Identified peer relationships in children with chronic illnesses as an important but neglected, research area. This study compared 21 children with asthma, ages 8-13, with 21 matched classroom controls on a number of measures of peer relationship adjustment, including both self-report and peer-report items. Overall, the children with asthma had peer relationships that were equivalent to those of their classmates, although they were seen as being sicker and missing more school. However, those children who experienced more hospitalizations were less preferred as playmates, perceived as more sensitive-isolated, and felt more lonely. Implications for intervention are considered, and the notion of asthma severity and its measurement is also discussed.