The Relationship of Illness Uncertainty, Illness Intrusiveness, and Asthma Severity to Depression in Young Adults with Long-Standing Asthma

This study examined the potential mediating/moderating influence of both illness intrusiveness and asthma severity on the association between illness uncertainty and depression in a college sample of older adolescents and young adults (N = 40) with histories of childhood asthma. There was a significant association between increased illness uncertainty and increased levels of depression. However, analyses indicated that neither illness intrusiveness nor asthma severity served as mediators in the uncertainty–depression relationship. Examination of moderator effects of intrusiveness and severity on the uncertainty–depression relationship revealed an interaction for severity only; thus, the significant effect of uncertainty on depression was at its maximim under conditions of increased illness severity. Results suggest that cognitive appraisal mechanisms involving decreasing ambiguity about illness may be worthwhile targets for intervention.