A child with asthma was admitted to the hospital during an attack. The mother says, "This is all my fault, if only I hadn't smoked when I was pregnant." Which response would be helpful to the mother?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Blaming oneself for a child's illness is a common response among parents, and it is important to provide gentle reassurance and accurate information to help alleviate those feelings. In this case, explaining that asthma is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors can help the mother understand that her smoking during pregnancy may have contributed to the risk, but it is not the only cause of her child's asthma. It is important to avoid shaming or blaming the mother, as this can be counterproductive to helping her support her child's health.

A Child with Asthma Was Admitted to the Hospital During