Parents Might Contribute to Childhood Asthma

Researchers trying to account for the surge in childhood asthma have studied genetics, infections and allergies. Now they’ve identified another possible culprit: poor parenting skills.

In following 150 children for eight years, beginning at birth, psychologists at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver found that kids whose parents had trouble coping--especially during the child’s first year--were more than twice as likely to become asthmatic by age 6 to 8.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that a child’s physical environment during the first months of life can promote development of asthma. Our findings indicate that we should consider the emotional environment as well,” said Mary Klinnert, lead author of the study that appears in the October issue of Pediatrics.

She and her colleagues speculate that a parent who copes poorly exposes the child to greater emotional stress, which in turn can alter immune function and inflammation, both of which have roles in asthma. Also, parents who are doing well may be more likely to intervene quickly when a child suffers from breathing distress.