Abstract
This study examined caregiver perceptions of risk of food allergen exposure, and food allergy severity, worry, and health-related quality of life, and identified variations by race/ethnicity. Given the lack of data on racial/ethnic background in research on the psychosocial impacts of food allergy, this study meets a pressing need for research regarding food allergy-related experiences among diverse populations. This study found there were significant differences in perceived risk of allergen exposure among racial/ethnic groups with Asian Americans reporting significantly higher perceived risk of allergen exposure than Hispanic, Caucasian, and African American caregivers. There were no significant differences in food allergy severity, food allergy worry, or health-related quality of life among racial/ethnic groups; however, variability among racial/ethnic groups was apparent. Data may inform screening, counseling, and education practices for families from diverse backgrounds and aid in hypothesis generation for future research.
Highlights
Childhood food allergy prevalence is estimated at 8% in the United States and has risen at a rapid rate over the past two decades [1,2]
(9%), Caucasians of 103 caregivers included African Americans (26%), Asian Americans (9%), Caucasians (43%), (43%), Hispanics (9%), and participants who classified themselves as an “other” race/ethnicity (10%)
Our findings in this study were not significant, with the exception of Asian Americans perceiving higher risk of allergen exposure, food allergy-related psychosocial experiences may vary based on sociodemographic variables, such as race/ethnicity
Summary
Childhood food allergy prevalence is estimated at 8% in the United States and has risen at a rapid rate over the past two decades [1,2]. Even when controlling for parent income and education level, African Americans with food allergies have higher rates of food insecurity and difficulty affording medications and Hispanic patients have more difficulty affording follow up care compared to Caucasians [9]. These studies indicate that minority children are at higher risk of adverse outcomes than Caucasian children, which is likely to affect their quality of life and may affect caregiver’s overall worry and perceptions of their children’s food allergy severity and risk of allergen exposure. Our aim is to explore food allergy perceptions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a diverse sample with the goal of aiding in future hypothesis generation regarding the impact of race/ethnicity on psychosocial functioning
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