Mothers impose physical activity restrictions on their asthmatic children and adolescents: an analytical cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activities are important for children and adolescents, especially asthmatics. A significant proportion is considered less active than their non-asthmatic peers and mother’s beliefs about asthma are thought to be a determinant factor.The research objectives were to investigate whether mothers try to impose limitations on the physical activity (PA) of their asthmatic children/adolescents; identify associated factors; and explore if this attitude has any impact on children’s PA levels.MethodsIn this cross sectional investigation, we studied 115 asthmatics aged between 9 and 19 years and their mothers. Asthma severity, PA level and exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB) were evaluated. Mothers were questioned on their beliefs about physical activity in non-asthmatic and asthmatic children, if they imposed restrictions on their children’s physical activity, on EIB perception and personal levels of anxiety and depression.ResultsNinety six percent of the mothers answered that PA are important for children and adolescents. Despite this, 37% of them admitted imposing restrictions to their children’s PA. This attitude was associated with mother’s negative opinions about asthmatics doing PA, perception of children’s dyspnea after running on a treadmill, mother’s anxiety level and children’s asthma severity. The mother’s restrictive attitudes were not associated with children’s lower PA levels.ConclusionA high proportion of the mothers said that they restrained their asthmatic children from engaging in physical activity. This fact should be recognized by health professionals and discussed with parents and caregivers as these negative beliefs may lead to conflicts and prejudiced attitudes that could discourage children’s involvement in physical activities and sports.

Designing a physical activity intervention for children with asthma: a qualitative study of the views of healthcare professionals, parents and children with asthma

“…22 Similarly, Brazilian data have shown that 96% of mothers of children aged 9-19 years and young people with asthma reported that they felt that physical activity was important for their child but 37% of the sample restricted their child's physical activity opportunities. 23 The same study also reported that 37% of mothers reported that exercise was dangerous for children with asthma, but there was no evidence of an association between the severity of the child's asthma and his or her physical activity. Qualitative data from Scotland have shown that many parents and school staff were very anxious about children with asthma being physically active, and that physical activity was perceived as a threat to asthma control.…”

“…For example, qualitative research with children aged 8–10 years in New York showed that school management of inhalers and poor asthma control were key factors that affected physical activity participation 22. Similarly, Brazilian data have shown that 96% of mothers of children aged 9–19 years and young people with asthma reported that they felt that physical activity was important for their child but 37% of the sample restricted their child's physical activity opportunities 23. The same study also reported that 37% of mothers reported that exercise was dangerous for children with asthma, but there was no evidence of an association between the severity of the child's asthma and his or her physical activity.…”

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction diagnosis in asthmatic children: comparison of treadmill running and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation challenges

“…After TR the observed EIB prevalence in the studied population was 56% (19 children), somewhat higher than that found in other studies of Brazilian patients with asthma of the same age (33% to 52%). 17,18 After EVH, 50% (17 with asthma) had a positive challenge result. The agreement between the responses measured by the 2 bronchial challenge methods was 71%, but the Cohen k coefficient used to measure chance-corrected nominal scale agreement was only moderate (k ¼ 0.412).…”

Physical Activity in School-Aged Children with Asthma in an Urban City of Taiwan

“…In a recent study, health perception of the parents was found to be associated with the activity level of children with asthma. 17 Parents agreed that exercise was hazardous to asthmatic children and therefore restrained their children from engaging in physical activity. Considering the motivations for a children to be active, perception and convenience for exercise 18 may be as important as objective observation.…”