Comparison of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Health Locus of Control in Children with Asthma and Normal Children

Due to the importance of psychological factors in asthma and the need for more recognition of these factors, the aim of this study was to compare cognitive emotion regulation strategies and health locus of control in children with asthma and normal children. This descriptive study was causal-comparative, and the study population included all children admitted to hospitals with asthma. Children of Tehran and Tabriz admitted during the first half of 2016 were the study population, among which 45 children with asthma and 45 normal children were selected with available sampling and considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study and matched according to age, education, and gender. After obtaining informed written consent from children and parents, cognitive emotion regulation and health locus of control were evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-test by SPSS-16 statistical software. The results showed that children with asthma had differences compared with normal children, including lower mean acceptance and positive reappraisal, and greater mean strategies of self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing and perspective. This difference was statistically significant (t = 2.98 to 5.65, P > 0.05). Also, children with asthma had a greater mean external locus of control and chance locus of control and lower mean health locus of control internal compared to normal children; these differences were statistically significant (t = -5.76 to 6/65, P > 0.05). Considering the results of this study, based on the unfavorable situation of emotional regulation and health locus of control in children with asthma compared with normal children, it is suggested that the results of this research should be used in health and education programs for children with asthma.