Background: Current findings suggest that health professionals are ill-prepared to cater to the needs of families and family members living with a child with a hypersensitivity to food. Typical management of these conditions involves focus on avoidance of the offending food, with little acknowledgement of the psychological burden.
Aims: This study investigated the impact of having a food hypersensitive child on whole family units and examined the mechanisms which promote resilience within these families.
Method: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used, with data from 217 participants, comprising 50 families (parents, children with food allergy, food intolerance and/or Coeliac Disease, and siblings without food hypersensitivities). Families completed a battery of measures and participated in family interviews.
Results: Qualitative analysis indicated four types of resilience skill sets utilised by families – Problem Solving, Adaptability, Positive Coping and Social Support. Triangulation with quantitative data indicated higher resilience skill use was associated with higher levels of benefit finding, higher QoL, less anxiety and less stress. Families who managed the conditions with a team-based approach were more likely to show greater adjustment and increased awareness of positive outcomes.
Conclusion: The psychosocial health of families with food hypersensitivities is an area which requires deeper exploration. To date there appears to be little formal evidence-based support and intervention for families struggling with the psychosocial implications of their food hypersensitive child. Moreover, this study suggests that with support it is possible to mitigate the stress families inevitably experience when dealing with these illnesses and promote positive adjustment.