Objective: In this study, we used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) delivered via smart- phones to determine how the daily experiences (comfort in neighborhood, ability to manage child's asthma, positive/negative affect) of 59 caregivers (90% African-American/black) living in an urban setting are associated with asthma symptoms in children ages 7-12 years (M = 9.56 years).
Methods: Caregivers and their children with asthma completed a baseline research ses- sion, followed by 14 days of EMA surveys completed on smartphones. EMA enables researchers to examine within-person processes while preserving the ecological validity of the data and re- ducing retrospective recall bias.
Results: On days when caregivers reported more child asthma symptoms, they also reported feeling less comfortable in their neighborhoods and less able to control their child's asthma at home. Baseline reports of caregiver quality of life were also associ- ated with child asthma symptoms.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for researchers and clinicians to recognize that both asthma (ie, ability to control asthma) and non-asthma related factors (ie, factors related to neighborhoods) may be associated with caregivers' perceptions of their children's asthma symptoms. Perceptions of child symptoms have important consequences for daily asthma care, including decisions related to healthcare utilization.