Family Asthma Management and Physical Activity Among Urban Children

Introduction: Urban, low-income, and Black and Latino children with asthma experience higher morbidity and poorer outcomes compared to their suburban, higher-income, and non-Latino White counterparts. This risk is further compounded by higher rates of co-occurring overweight or obesity. Physical activity contributes to both asthma and overweight/obesity status, however, little is known about factors that may promote/limit physical activity among youth from low-income, urban, and racial/ethnic backgrounds. This study evaluates associations between asthma management behaviors and physical activity among a sample of racially/ethnically diverse youth with asthma of both healthy weight and overweight/obesity status. Method: 147 children with asthma (Mage = 8.3; 50% overweight/obese status, 58% Hispanic/Latino, and 26% Black) and their families completed the Family Asthma Management System Scale (FAMSS; McQuaid et al., 2005) between 2013 and 2015. Physical activity was measured with waist-worn accelerometers. Differences in FAMSS scores by physical activity levels and associations between FAMSS scores and physical activity for the total sample and by race/ethnicity and weight status were evaluated. Results: Children who met recommended physical activity guidelines had higher FAMSS "medication adherence", t(89) = -2.04, p < .05, and "collaboration with health care provider", t(89) = -2.09, p < .05. More optimal "environmental control" related to lower levels of physical activity (beta = -.21, p < .05) while more optimal "medication adherence" was associated with higher levels of physical activity (beta = .21, p < .05). Differences in these associations were identified by race/ethnicity, though not weight status. Conclusions: Asthma management behaviors were associated with physical activity, with notable differences by race/ethnicity. Tailored interventions simultaneously addressing multiple health behaviors may be warranted. The current study yields information about health behaviors that are co-occurring and related to one another, lending support for integrated interventions that address multiple health behaviors across levels (e.g., individual, family, and community) and settings (e.g., home, school, and neighborhood).