Association between psychosocial factors and asthma in a demographically representative adult population

We conducted an analysis of a demographically representative community health survey to examine the association between psychosocial factors and asthma. Data were available from the Speak to Your Health! Community Survey, a community-based survey designed and implemented by university and community partners using Community Based Public Health (CBPH) principles to investigate health and social issues in Genesee County, Michigan. The survey gathered information on self-reported mental and physical health status, disease diagnoses, health access and utilization, health promoting and health adverse behaviors, neighborhood conditions, and other topics. We sampled households in all residential census tracts in Genesee County, Michigan. One resident over 18 years of age was randomly selected within each household and participated in a telephone interview. The total sample size for the telephone survey in 2007 was 1748. The mean age of the participants was 54.7 (SD=15.69); 66% of participants were White, 26% African American, and 7% other race/ethnicity; and 15% of the population reported being diagnosed with asthma. Males in the adult population were significantly more likely to report an asthma diagnosis. Adults with asthma had significantly higher Body Mass Index, lower levels of social support, and higher levels of stress than adults without asthma. Those diagnosed with asthma also had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of psychosocial factors impacting their adult patient populations and tailor patient care, communication, and community-based educational interventions to specifically address these.