A qualitative study to inform development of a behavioral intervention to promote food allergy self-management and adjustment among early adolescents.

What is it about?

This study was the first step in an iterative approach to develop a behavioral intervention to improve transition of food allergy management in early adolescence. The study utilized a qualitative software program to analyze audio-recorded interviews with 26 adolescents with food allergies and their parents who were recruited from food allergy clinics. Participants were a diverse cohort representative of the food allergy clinics. The interviews assessed aspects of psychosocial functioning and adherence with the goal of identifying areas to target in a behavioral intervention. Six themes emerged from the interviews: 1) food allergy is a chronic burden that affects daily life, 2) families experience anxiety about food allergy, 3) families find it challenging to transition food allergy management from parent to child, 4) food allergy families feel the need to be prepared, 5) food allergy families frequently advocate for their needs, and 6) social experiences affect the food allergy experience. Adolescents and their parents were receptive to both in-person or telehealth sessions with inclusion of parents and adolescent only sessions. The following components of a potential behavioral intervention were proposed to likely support adolescents in their allergen avoidance and emergency preparedness: 1) food allergy education, 2) executive function skill building to assist with planning, 3) cognitive flexibility, 4) advocacy skill building, 5) stress and anxiety management, 6) peer support and 7) education about effective transition of food allergy care from parent to adolescent.

Featured Image

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Food allergy is a common chronic illness and the majority of fatal incidents among youth with food allergies occurs during adolescence and young adulthood. Adolescence is a particularly challenging developmental period of increased self-management of food allergies that is associated with poorer adherence and risky health behaviors. There is no current standardized protocol or behavioral intervention to promote self-management and adjustment in adolescents with food allergies, and the development of an evidence-based intervention could drastically improve health outcomes and adjustment for these adolescents and their families.