Asthmatic children and their mothers depression and anxiety levels

Introduction and Aim: Bronchial asthma is a chronic air route inflamation developed by bronchial sensitivity and characterized as a chronic childhood disease. Children with chronic diseases and their mothers show depression and anxiety incidences, which are supported by publications. In that regard, we aimed here at our university to observe asthmatic children and their mothers? depression and anxiety levels.Cases and Methods: : In the study group, we included fifty asthmatic children and their mothers, fifty diabetic children's mothers, fifty mothers who had children with acute upper respiratory infection. In the control group fifty healthy children and their mothers were observed for this study. The research covered two hundred mothers and a hundred children. Data was collected by the researchers using the Interview form, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Depression Scale for Children and Continuous Anxiety Inventory Children.Findings::According to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the assessment showed that 52 percent of the mothers with asthmatic children, 50 percent of the mothers with diabetic children, 28 percent of the mothers with upper respiratory infection and 22 percent of the mothers with healthy children had the depression score of 7 above (significant). In the study group, mothers with asthmatic children and mothers with diabetic children showed no statisticaly significant difference (p>0,05), while mothers of asthmatic children and mothers of children with respiratory infection and mothers of healthy children showed statisticaly significant difference (p=0,02).According to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the assessment showed that 46 percent of the mothers with asthmatic children, 44 percent of the mothers with diabetic children, 26 percent of the mothers with upper respiratory infection and 24 percent of the mothers with healthy children had the anxiety score of above 10 (significant). In the study group, mothers with asthmatic children and mothers with diabetic children showed no statisticaly significant difference (p>0,05), while between mothers of asthmatic children and mothers of children with respiratory infection and mothers of healthy children showed statisticaly significant difference (p=0,031).Using the Depression Scale for children , findings showed that asthmatic children?s depression level was higher than the healthy children?s depression level and statistically showed a significant difference (p=0,001).Continuous Anxiety Inventory for Children , on the other hand, revealed that asthmatic children?s depression level was higher than the healthy children?s depression level and statistically showed a significant difference (p=0,001).Results: The study concluded the asthmatic children and their mothers? depression and anxiety levels were increased. It has been determined that during the follow-ups and treatments of children with asthma, giving support to the families will help and improve both the patients? treatment process and the dialog between doctor and patients? relatives.Key Words: Asthma, Depression and Anxiety.