Evaluation of Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Pediatric Patients with Food Allergy and Anxiety and Depression Status of Their Mothers

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anxiety and depression in mothers of food allergic children.

Material and Method: The study was conducted as a prospective-descriptive study. The clinical characteristics of the children applied with food allergy diagnosis, sociodemographics were evaluated and  Beck Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Scales were applied to the mothers.

Results: Mothers of children who had more than 1 food allergy attack per month in the last 6 months, mothers of children with multiple food allergies, and mothers with other children diagnosed with allergy had significantly higher anxiety levels. Anxiety levels of mothers with lower educational level were significantly higher (p<0.05). Mothers of children who had more than 1 food allergy attack per month in the last 6 months, mothers of patients with multiple food allergies and younger mothers had significantly higher depression scores (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Clinical conditions of the children such as number of attacks and presence of multiple food allergens affected the depression and anxiety levels of the mothers. Therefore, reducing the number of attacks with clinical control of food allergies will have a positive effect on both the health of the child and the health of the mother as a caregiver.