Evaluation of sleep quality and anxiety-depression parameters in asthmatic children and their mothers

Background: Having a child with a chronic disease may cause anxiety and depression and impair the sleep quality in the mothers. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality in asthmatic children and their mothers as well as the status of anxiety-depression in the mothers. Methods: Study group consisted of 75 asthmatic children aged between 7 and 16 years (mean +/- SD 8.4 +/- 2.9) and the control group consisted of 46 healthy children aged between 7 and 15 years (mean +/- SD 9.1 +/- 3.6). Pittsburgh Steep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered to both the children and their mothers white Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered only to the mothers. Results: Total PSQI score of the mothers in the asthmatic group was significantly correlated with asthma severity of the children (r = 0.49, p = 0.00). There was a significant correlation between asthma symptom score and sleep disturbing factors subscore in children with asthma (r = 0.34, p = 0.01). Moreover, anxiety and depression subscores of the mothers in the asthma group were significantly higher (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Asthma may be associated with altered sleep quality in children and their mothers. Similarly, mothers of children with asthma may have disorder of anxiety and depression. Therefore, children with and their mothers need to be assessed for the requirement of support regarding steep quality and anxiety-depression status. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.