"When I became older, I started having to manage that more myself"-Experiences of adolescents with food allergies: A qualitative study.

Abstract

Background: It's often caregivers or healthcare professionals' experiences that are studied in the field of allergy, but the adolescents' perspective is crucial to develop interventions that support them in areas they find most challenging. This study aims to explore adolescents' experience of managing food allergies, particularly how they navigate the transition from parental management to self-management.

Methods: This is an interpretive descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten adolescents with food allergies aged 12-16 years. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. The Reflexive Thematic Analysis Reporting Guidelines were used.

Results: Four themes were generated, (1) belonging-seeing me, (2) not knowing (3) taking responsibility-"So I guess when I became older, I started having to manage that more myself" and (4) variation in coping strategies. These describe adolescents need for belonging, that their peers acknowledge their food allergies without making them feel like a burden. Adolescents understanding of essential food allergy information was lacking, with some unaware of this lack of knowledge. Adolescents were conscious of the need to take over responsibility from their parents, although this could be difficult. Finally, how adolescents coped with all these aspects of their food allergy could be seen as avoidant due to high anxiety, minimizing of risk, or adaptive, where adolescents are aware of and mitigate risks appropriately, without avoiding life experiences.

Conclusion: Adolescents find the transition of responsibility from their parents difficult. A trusted source of allergy information is required, aimed at adolescents, covering both physical allergy management and psychosocial content.