Impact of Life-Threatening Childhood Food Allergies
Currently, there is limited information in medical, nursing, psychological, and social work journals regarding the psychosocial impact of parenting a young child with a life-threatening food allergy (Mandell et al., 2005). Further, prevalence is increasing, and research findings are needed to establish practice guidelines. Although an abundance of literature exists that briefly mentions the familial impact of having a young child with a life-threatening food allergy, there were only nine articles found that explicitly focused, in some way, on the psychosocial impact of parenting a young child with this con dition (Bollinger et al., 2006; Bunce, 1997; Gillespie et al., 2007: Hu, Loblay, Ziegler, & Kemp, 2008; Kelsay, 2003; Klinnert & Robinson, 2008; Mandell et al., 2005; Sicherer et al., 2001; Williams, Parra, & Elkin, 2009).
Parents of children with food allergies reveal fear and uncertainty as themes in the literature related to the process of familial adaptation. Gillespie and colleagues (2007) performed a phenomenological study aimed at ascertaining the central meaning of the mother's experience of parenting a child with a life-threatening food allergy. The study results found the essence of the experience as "living with risk," supported by five themes: "living with fear," "worrying about well-being," "looking for control," "relying on resources," and "it is hard, but it is not." The author notes that fear was a constant thread that entwined all of the themes and highlights the importance of the nurse in supporting mothers of children with food-induced anaphylaxis.
Parents of children with food allergies also describe "constant vigilance" as a supporting theme in the literature. Bunce (1997) offers an anecdotal account of one mother's experience parenting a child with a life-threatening food allergy. The mother's experience began with observing her child suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction. The mother stated: "It takes over your life. You need to be constantly vigilant and can't afford to let up for even a moment because it could be fatal" (Bunce, 1997, p. 28). Eventually, the child's food allergy became such an overwhelming factor that the mother quit her job to manage her child's condition. When the mother returned to work, she carried a pager so that in the event of an emergency, she would be accessible. Throughout the adaptation process, the mother stated normalization of the family as an important goal and means of coping.
Bollinger et al. (2006) demonstrated a significant impact of food allergy on the daily activities of parents. Using the Food Allergy Impact Scale, Bollinger and colleagues (2006) asked 87 caregivers to rate the degree to which their child's food allergy affected meal preparation, family social activities, caregiver-supervised child social activities, autonomous child social activities, school activities, family relations, caregiver stress and free time, and employment and finances. Findings showed that almost 70% of parents felt an impact from food allergy on meal preparation activities. Approximately 60% of parents reported the child's and/or family's social activities were significantly altered as a result of the food allergy. In addition, 41% of parents indicated their stress level had increased since their child was diagnosed, particularly when it was necessary to separate from their child. Bollinger et al. (2006) also determined that parents of children with two or more food allergies reported decreased quality of life likely related to the additional burden of monitoring for more than one food allergen. Using the Children's Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) in their study of 253 parents, Sicherer and colleagues (2001) also noted parental distress and worry, perception of health, and limitations to family activities as a result of parenting a child with food allergy are significantly greater than in the general population. These differences existed to a greater degree for parents of children diagnosed with two or more food allergens and concurrent diagnosis of other atopic diseases.
Parental Perspectives Related to Food Allergy
Currently, there is limited information in medical, nursing, psychological, and social work journals regarding the psychosocial impact of parenting a young child with a life-threatening food allergy (Mandell et al., 2005). Further, prevalence is increasing, and research findings are needed to establish practice guidelines. Although an abundance of literature exists that briefly mentions the familial impact of having a young child with a life-threatening food allergy, there were only nine articles found that explicitly focused, in some way, on the psychosocial impact of parenting a young child with this con dition (Bollinger et al., 2006; Bunce, 1997; Gillespie et al., 2007: Hu, Loblay, Ziegler, & Kemp, 2008; Kelsay, 2003; Klinnert & Robinson, 2008; Mandell et al., 2005; Sicherer et al., 2001; Williams, Parra, & Elkin, 2009).
Parents of children with food allergies reveal fear and uncertainty as themes in the literature related to the process of familial adaptation. Gillespie and colleagues (2007) performed a phenomenological study aimed at ascertaining the central meaning of the mother's experience of parenting a child with a life-threatening food allergy. The study results found the essence of the experience as "living with risk," supported by five themes: "living with fear," "worrying about well-being," "looking for control," "relying on resources," and "it is hard, but it is not." The author notes that fear was a constant thread that entwined all of the themes and highlights the importance of the nurse in supporting mothers of children with food-induced anaphylaxis.
Parents of children with food allergies also describe "constant vigilance" as a supporting theme in the literature. Bunce (1997) offers an anecdotal account of one mother's experience parenting a child with a life-threatening food allergy. The mother's experience began with observing her child suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction. The mother stated: "It takes over your life. You need to be constantly vigilant and can't afford to let up for even a moment because it could be fatal" (Bunce, 1997, p. 28). Eventually, the child's food allergy became such an overwhelming factor that the mother quit her job to manage her child's condition. When the mother returned to work, she carried a pager so that in the event of an emergency, she would be accessible. Throughout the adaptation process, the mother stated normalization of the family as an important goal and means of coping.
Bollinger et al. (2006) demonstrated a significant impact of food allergy on the daily activities of parents. Using the Food Allergy Impact Scale, Bollinger and colleagues (2006) asked 87 caregivers to rate the degree to which their child's food allergy affected meal preparation, family social activities, caregiver-supervised child social activities, autonomous child social activities, school activities, family relations, caregiver stress and free time, and employment and finances. Findings showed that almost 70% of parents felt an impact from food allergy on meal preparation activities. Approximately 60% of parents reported the child's and/or family's social activities were significantly altered as a result of the food allergy. In addition, 41% of parents indicated their stress level had increased since their child was diagnosed, particularly when it was necessary to separate from their child. Bollinger et al. (2006) also determined that parents of children with two or more food allergies reported decreased quality of life likely related to the additional burden of monitoring for more than one food allergen. Using the Children's Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) in their study of 253 parents, Sicherer and colleagues (2001) also noted parental distress and worry, perception of health, and limitations to family activities as a result of parenting a child with food allergy are significantly greater than in the general population. These differences existed to a greater degree for parents of children diagnosed with two or more food allergens and concurrent diagnosis of other atopic diseases.