ORIGINAL PAPER Understanding the Quality of Life for Parents and Their Children Who have Asthma: Family Resources and Challenges Carla Crespo • Carlos Carona • Neuza Silva • Maria Cristina Canavarro • Frank Dattilio Published online: 3 May 2011 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 Abstract In this study we investigated the links between caregiver burden, family environment, and quality of life in 97 pairs of children with asthma and the one who was determined to be the primary family caregiver. Using structural equation modeling, within- participant analyses showed that family environment was positively linked to quality of life for both children and parents. Across-participant analyses demonstrated that parents’ positive perceptions of family environment were associated with parents’ and children’s improved quality of life. In addition, parents’ perceptions of family environment mediated the link between caregiver burden and parents’ and children’s quality of life. Implications for intervention with families are discussed in light of this study’s important results. Keywords Quality of life Á Asthma Á Family environment Á Caregiver burden Introduction Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood, affecting a significant number of children and their families worldwide (Shohat et al. 2005; Streisand and Tercyak 2004). Living with asthma poses challenges of different sorts: to children and the other family members individually, as well as to the family as a whole (Kazak 1989). A growing body of research (Brown et al. 2008; Everhart et al. 2008; Marsac et al. 2006; Van Gent et al. 2007) consistently shows that children with asthma and their parents/caregivers are at risk for decreased psychological functioning, well-being, and quality of life (QoL). Despite the evidence underscoring that this health condition can be associated with a wide range of impairments of functioning and well-being and the consensual view that asthma can be C. Crespo (&) Á C. Carona Á N. Silva Á M. C. Canavarro Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 6153, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal e-mail: carlacrespo@fpce.uc.pt; carlacrespo@hotmail.com F. Dattilio Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 123 Contemp Fam Ther (2011) 33:179–196 DOI 10.1007/s10591-011-9155-5