Climate change-induced eco-anxiety and asthma control in pediatric patients: A cross-sectional nursing study

IF 2.3 4区医学 Q2 NURSING

Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families Pub Date : 2025-08-14 DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2025.08.009

Mona Metwally El-Sayed , Jebril Al-Hrinat , Ali Aldirawi , Huda Gaber Hamzaa , Sameer A. Alkubati , Fatma Abdelaziz Mohammed , Aseel Hendi , Samah Ramadan Ibrahim Elrefaey , Helalia Shalabi Mohamed Shalabi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Pediatric asthma remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children globally. The rising environmental threats associated with climate change have introduced eco-anxiety as a novel psychological factor that may influence asthma control. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between climate change-induced eco-anxiety and asthma control among pediatric patients with asthma.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric patients with asthma at the chest outpatient clinics of a public hospital in Egypt from February to May 2024. A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 233 participants, aged from 6 to 12 years. Data were collected through structured validated tools, including the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS-13). The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 26). Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression.

Results

Most participants (57.1 %) exhibited inadequately controlled asthma. The mean asthma control score was 18.55 (±4.57) out of 27, while the mean eco-anxiety score was 14.24 (±10.65) out of 52. A significant negative correlation was observed between asthma control and eco-anxiety (r = −0.300, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that higher eco-anxiety scores, history of asthma hospitalization, family history of asthma, and having a divorced parent significantly predicted poorer asthma control (Adjusted R² = 0.242, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Eco-anxiety is a significant psychological predictor of poor asthma control among children, particularly when compounded by sociodemographic factors such as being divorced, employee father, having a history of hospitalization for asthma, and having a family history of asthma. The findings underscore the need for pediatric nursing interventions that integrate psychological assessment and support into asthma management, emphasizing eco-anxiety as a modifiable factor to improve health outcomes.

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气候变化引起的生态焦虑与儿科患者哮喘控制：一项横断面护理研究

儿童哮喘仍然是影响全球儿童的最普遍的慢性疾病之一。与气候变化相关的环境威胁日益增加，生态焦虑作为一种新的心理因素可能会影响哮喘的控制。本研究旨在探讨气候变化引起的儿童哮喘患者生态焦虑与哮喘控制的关系。方法对2024年2月至5月在埃及一家公立医院胸科门诊就诊的儿童哮喘患者进行横断面研究。采用方便抽样方法，共招募了233名年龄在6 ~ 12岁之间的参与者。通过结构化的验证工具收集数据，包括儿童哮喘控制测试（C-ACT）和霍格生态焦虑量表（HEAS-13）。采用SPSS统计软件（第26版）对数据进行分析。统计分析包括Pearson相关和多元线性回归。结果大多数参与者（57.1%）表现为哮喘控制不充分。平均哮喘控制评分为18.55分（±4.57分），平均生态焦虑评分为14.24分（±10.65分）。哮喘控制与生态焦虑呈显著负相关(r = - 0.300, p <；0.001)。回归分析显示，较高的生态焦虑评分、哮喘住院史、哮喘家族史和父母离异显著预测哮喘控制较差(调整后R2 = 0.242, p <；0.001)。结论生态焦虑是儿童哮喘控制不良的重要心理预测因子，特别是在离婚、在职父亲、有哮喘住院史和有哮喘家族史等社会人口因素的影响下。研究结果强调了儿科护理干预的必要性，将心理评估和支持纳入哮喘管理，强调生态焦虑是改善健康结果的可改变因素。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families NURSING-PEDIATRICS

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

8.30%

发文量

291

审稿时长

65 days

期刊介绍： Official Journal of the Society of Pediatric Nurses and the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society (PENS) The Journal of Pediatric Nursing: Nursing Care of Children and Families (JPN) is interested in publishing evidence-based practice, quality improvement, theory, and research papers on a variety of topics from US and international authors. JPN is the official journal of the Society of Pediatric Nurses and the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society. Cecily L. Betz, PhD, RN, FAAN is the Founder and Editor in Chief. Journal content covers the life span from birth to adolescence. Submissions should be pertinent to the nursing care needs of healthy and ill infants, children, and adolescents, addressing their biopsychosocial needs. JPN also features the following regular columns for which authors may submit brief papers: Hot Topics and Technology.