Peanut Allergy in Children: Relationships to Health-Related Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Parental Stress

Abstract

This study examined relationships between Health Related Quality of Life, child anxiety, and parental stress in a sample of children with peanut allergy. 51 families were recruited to complete a series of measures including a demographic questionnaire, the Parenting Stress Index, a PedsQL 4.0, and a series of questions regarding their child's peanut allergy. Children completed a Revised-Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, a PedsQL 4.0, and some specific questions regarding their peanut allergy. Regression analysis showed that child anxiety and parenting stress were found to significantly predict parent proxy-report of their child's health related quality of life; child anxiety, parenting stress, length of diagnosis, and requiring an epinephrine shot predicted self-report of health-related quality of life. Health-related quality of life in children with peanut allergy was affected not only by the severity of the allergy, but family reactions to the allergy.