Wallabada Hewage Don Vipuli Tharaka Madurangi¹, Damitha Chandradasa², Miyuru Chandradasa³
1- Base Hospital Welimada, Sri Lanka
2- Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
3- University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Corresponding Author:
Wallabada Hewage Don Vipuli Tharaka Madurangi (
madurangi2105@gmail.com)
Abstract Body
Introduction: Bronchial asthma is a common chronic disease in childhood requiring long-term management. Its unpredictable course places a significant psychological burden on parents, which may negatively influence asthma control and health outcomes.
Objectives: To assess parental stress and identify associated sociodemographic and asthmarelated factors among parents of children with bronchial asthma attending Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 319 parents of children with bronchial asthma. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire including sociodemographic information, asthma-related factors, the Parental Stress Scale, and the Childhood Asthma Control Test. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: Higher-than-average parental stress was observed in 49% of parents, while 45% of children had poor asthma control. Parental stress showed a moderate negative correlation with asthma control (r = −0.41, p < 0.001). Poor asthma control, sleep disturbance due to asthma, frequent hospital admissions, and low monthly income were significantly associated with higher parental stress.
Conclusions: Parental stress is common among parents of children with bronchial asthma and is influenced by both clinical and socioeconomic factors. Incorporating psychosocial assessment into routine paediatric asthma care may improve overall disease management.