1. Theoretical Background Conclusions & Future Directions
Food Allergies and Psychological Distress among Pediatric Patients
Sandra Rodgin, B.A,1 Rachel Goldman, B.A.,1 Renee D. Goodwin, Ph.D., M.P.H.,2, 3 Gabriele deVos, M.D.,4 and Jonathan M. Feldman, Ph.D.1,4,5
1 Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University
2 Department of Psychology, Queens College and The Graduate Center, The City University of New York
3 Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
4 Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center
5Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Theoretical Background
Analyses and Results
No between-group differences were found for participant characteristics, with the exception of number of children with asthma diagnoses (see Table 1.)
ANCOVA analyses were conducted to detect differences between children with and without food allergy on the MASC and CDI.
Children with food allergy scored significantly higher on the MASC Total
(F (1,38) 8.15, p=0.007), MASC Humiliation Rejection, (F (1, 41)=6.18, p=0.017), and MASC Social Anxiety Index (F (1, 39)=6.47, p=0.015) compared to children without food allergy (see Figure 1.)
No significant differences in depression were found between children with and without food allergy (see Table 2.)
No significant differences were found among caregivers with children with food allergy vs. caregivers with children without food allergy on the BAI and the BDI (see Table 3.).
Children with food allergy have been shown to report poorer physical heath-related quality of life, school quality of life, general quality of life, and higher separation anxiety compared to their siblings without food allergy (King, Knibb, and Hourihane, 2008) and compared to general population rates (Cummings, Knibb, King, & Lucas, 2010).
The goal of this study was to investigate symptoms of depression and anxiety among pediatric patients with and without food allergy in an ethnic minority, inner city, low-income population, taking childhood asthma into account.
It was hypothesized that children with food allergy and their caregivers would endorse higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms compared with children without food allergy and their caregivers.
Methods
51 pediatric patients without food allergy and 29 pediatric patients with food allergy were recruited from outpatient clinics at a public hospital in the Bronx, New York.
Participants belonged to one of two groups: 1) clinically-referred children with medically documented food allergies and 2) children without food allergy.
The children completed self-report measures of anxiety (Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children) and depression (Children’s Depression Inventory).
Caregivers completed self-report measures of anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II).
Conclusions & Future Directions
Summary of Findings
Children with food allergy appeared to have significantly higher overall anxiety, social anxiety and humiliation/rejection anxiety compared with children without food allergy.
Limitations
The study design was cross-sectional and cannot establish causality in any
of the observed relationships (i.e., food allergy and anxiety). This was a
pilot study and cell size may have compromised power in some
comparisons.
Future Directions
A better understanding of the level and implications of anxiety among children food allergy, through future research, would be informative in facilitating effective coping strategies potentially reducing anxiety and improving quality of life.