A systematic review of parent–child communication in pediatric asthma.

This systematic review focuses on parent–child communication in pediatric asthma management, analyzing 66 studies involving 5,373 youth with asthma and their caregivers. Using Murphy et al.'s (2017) integrative framework, communication was categorized as positive (warm and structured) or negative (hostile/intrusive and withdrawn). The review found that more positive and less negative communication is generally associated with better youth psychosocial functioning—including psychological adjustment and quality of life—and improved asthma-related outcomes such as symptom control and medication adherence. Sociodemographic factors showed largely nonsignificant associations with communication, though younger youth and families with higher socioeconomic status tended to exhibit more positive communication patterns. The authors highlight the predominance of cross-sectional questionnaire-based studies and recommend future research employ longitudinal designs, observational methods, and rigorous randomized controlled trials to better understand causal relationships and develop effective communication-focused interventions.