Psychological stress and family functioning in mothers of children with allergic rhinitis

Objective: Psychiatric symptoms are observed more commonly in mothers of children with allergic disease compared to the general population. In our study, we aimed to compare family functioning and anxiety parameters in mothers of children diagnosed allergic rhinitis and healthy controls. Methods: Study group consisted of 82 mothers of 7-15 years old children with allergic rhinitis. Control group consisted of 70 mothers of children with no chronic diseases. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) scales was obtained from participants. Results: Anxiety scores in mother of children with allergic rhinitis were significantly higher than the ones in the control group (50 +/- 7.54, 32 +/- 5.44, p = 0.02, respectively). Family assessment scores were higher in mother of children with allergic rhinitis when compared to the control group but did not reach statistical significance (1.89 +/- 0.12, 1.87 +/- 0.95, p = 0.19, respectively). Smoking status at home and jobless father were found to have a significant impact on the evaluation scale in mothers in the case group. Conclusion: Psychiatric symptoms observed in mothers of children with allergic rhinitis might be associated with child disease and the functioning of the entire family rather than features of the mother alone. Having a child with allergic rhinitis does not affect family functions according to the mother's aspect. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.