Biopsychosocial factors, prevention, and treatment strategies in the mental health difficulties of adolescents with asthma

Background: Adolescence is a vulnerable and constantly changing stage of life. Experiencing chronic illnesses such as bronchial asthma during this period can lead to heightened physical, psychological, and social problems in addition to the wide scope of challenges that coincide with the stage. The objective of this research was to identify risk and protective factors for mental health disorders, as well as the preventive and treatment strategies recommended to preserve mental health in adolescents with asthma (AA). Methods: A search was conducted in Medline, Web of Science, EBSCO Host, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and Scopus for articles published in English between 2020 and 2025 using the following search terms: i) asthma in adolescents and ii) psychosocial or emotional problems. The items were checked using the PRISMA checklist. Results: Thirty-eight articles were found: eight on mental health problems, fourteen on biopsychosocial risk factors, ten on biopsychosocial protection factors, and six on biopsychosocial interventions in AA. Discussion: Internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression, or externalizing problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or conduct disorders, are prevalent in AA. Several biopsychosocial risk factors, both individual and familial, have been identified as being related to mental health problems in AA. Protective biopsychosocial factors have also been found in AA, such as certain personal characteristics, family types or structures, friends, or schoolmates. Prevention or treatment strategies for mental health problems in AA should consider a personalized approach, taking into account the family system, friendships, and the school environment.