Children's Food Allergies: Development of the Food Allergy Management and Adaptation Scale

Mary D Klinnert; Elizabeth L McQuaid; David A Fedele; Anna Faino; Matthew Strand; Jane Robinson; Dan Atkins; David M Fleischer; Jonathan O'B Hourihane; Sophia Cohen; Hannah Fransen

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv009

Children's Food Allergies: Development of the Food Allergy Management and Adaptation Scale

J Pediatr Psychol. 2015 Jul;40(6):572-80. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv009. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Allergy Section, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, and Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Allergy Section, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, and Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver klinnertm@njhealth.org.
² Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Allergy Section, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, and Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Allergy Section, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, and Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver.
³ Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida, Division of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health, Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Allergy Section, Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, and Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver.

Abstract

Objective: Develop a measure that evaluates effective pediatric food allergy (FA) management, child and parent FA anxiety, and integration of FA into family life.

Methods: A semistructured family interview was developed to evaluate FA management using a pilot sample (n = 27). Rating scales evaluated eight dimensions of FA management (FAMComposite), child anxiety, parent anxiety, and overall balanced integration (BI). Families of children with IgE-mediated food allergies (n = 60, child age: 6-12) were recruited for interview and rating scale validation.

Results: FAMComposite was correlated with physician ratings for families' food avoidance and reaction response readiness. FA anxiety was correlated with general anxiety measures for children, but not parents. Parents' FA anxiety was correlated with expectations of negative outcomes from FA. Low BI was associated with poor quality of life and negative impact on family functioning.

Conclusions: Preliminary analyses support Food Allergy Management and Adaptation Scale validity as a measure of family adaptation to pediatric FA.

Keywords: family adaptation; management; pediatric food allergy; psychosocial adjustment.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Anxiety / etiology
Anxiety / psychology
Anxiety / therapy
Child
Disease Management
Family
Female
Food Hypersensitivity / complications
Food Hypersensitivity / psychology*
Food Hypersensitivity / therapy*
Humans
Male
Parents
Pediatrics
Quality of Life
Stress, Psychological / etiology
Stress, Psychological / psychology
Stress, Psychological / therapy
Surveys and Questionnaires

Children's Food Allergies: Development of the Food Allergy Management and Adaptation Scale

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding