Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Illness Perception in Pediatric Food Allergy

Highlights What are the main findings? Among children with food allergy (FA), quality of life (QoL) burden is positively associated with mental health difficulties, parental illness perception, and more allergens. Previous anaphylaxis is associated with a higher FA identity. Higher internalizing problems, emotional representation of the illness, and timeline are associated with a poorer QoL for the child. What are the implications of the main findings? The results highlighted the importance of understanding and exploring illness perception as well as paying attention to the psychosocial-emotional aspects of FA in both children and parents. Clinicians should investigate illness perceptions of caregivers and offer evidence-based information, discussion of doubts and concerns, training in FA and anaphylaxis management, and, when appropriate, referral for psychological support.Highlights What are the main findings? Among children with food allergy (FA), quality of life (QoL) burden is positively associated with mental health difficulties, parental illness perception, and more allergens. Previous anaphylaxis is associated with a higher FA identity. Higher internalizing problems, emotional representation of the illness, and timeline are associated with a poorer QoL for the child. What are the implications of the main findings? The results highlighted the importance of understanding and exploring illness perception as well as paying attention to the psychosocial-emotional aspects of FA in both children and parents. Clinicians should investigate illness perceptions of caregivers and offer evidence-based information, discussion of doubts and concerns, training in FA and anaphylaxis management, and, when appropriate, referral for psychological support.Abstract Background/Objectives: The beliefs about a disease and its treatment determine how patients and caregivers manage and adapt to the illness. The study aimed to explore the QoL and mental health of children with food allergy (FA), and parental illness perception, analyzing influences of sociodemographic and clinical factors and associations between constructs. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 79 parents of children (3-12 years) with FA, who completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ_PF), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions were performed. Results: FAQLQ score was positively associated (0.28) with SDQ score, particularly internalizing problems (0.33), and with B-IPQ score (0.64), consequences for the child and parents (0.66), timeline (0.43), and emotional representation (0.63). SDQ score was negatively associated with parental control (-0.27) and coherence (-0.24), while internalizing problems were negatively associated with parental control (-0.23) and positively associated with timeline (0.24). A greater number of allergens was associated with a worse QoL (p < 0.05). Previous anaphylaxis was associated with higher illness identity (p < 0.05). An age between 7 and 12 years was associated with lower control and coherence. In the final model, higher scores on internalizing problems, timeline, and emotional representation were associated with poorer child QoL (p < 0.001). Conclusions: It is crucial to understand and explore illness perception, as well as focus on psychosocial-emotional aspects of FA in both children and parents.A multidisciplinary approach addressing medical and psychological aspects of FA should be implemented to ensure optimal QoL.