Perceptions of Exercise Among School Aged Children with Asthma

Abstract

This grounded theory driven study explored the predominant categories and concepts involved with perceptions of exercise among school aged children with asthma. Ten children (five males, five females), ages 8-12, with various asthma disease severity, were interviewed in their homes. In addition, nine parents completed a health history questionnaire. The emergent grounded theory: The process of creating perceptions of exercise was identified from the data. The ongoing creation of perceptions of exercise was influenced by four predominant categories: perceived benefits, striving for normalcy, exercise influences, and asthma's influence. Because process is an ongoing occurrence, the four predominant categories may influence the creation of exercise perceptions simultaneously, or at different times and in various ways dependent upon the characteristics of the child and their unique situations and experiences (context). Perceived benefits, striving for normalcy, exercise influences, and asthma's influence were identified categories involved with the interactions, actions, and consequences interwoven throughout the creation of perceptions of exercise process. These categories help explain how exercise perceptions are developed from the participants' perspective. The process of creating perceptions of exercise is a continuous, circular, happening with the consequences leading to the development of exercise perceptions. The context may change but the overall process retains applicability to creating perceptions of exercise. The subjective insight gained throughout the development of the theory: the creation of perceptions of exercise, gives light to numerous areas for future nursing research and practice in hopes of improving the overall quality of life among this population.