Depression, anxiety, and quality of life levels in mothers of children with IgE-mediated food allergy and food protein–induced allergic proctocolitis

Background: Childhood food allergies are known to cause various psychosocial disorders in parents and caregivers. The aim of this study is to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and quality of life in mothers whose children have IgE-mediated food allergy or food protein–induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP). Methods: Mothers of children under 5 years of age with IgE-mediated food allergy or FPIAP and healthy children of the same age were administered the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIT-TRAIT), and the Short Form for Quality of Life Measurement-36 (SF-36). Results: A total of 126 mothers were included in the study: Forty-two each in the IgE-mediated group, the FPIAP group, and the healthy control group. Mothers in the IgE-mediated group and FPIAP group had higher depression and STAIT anxiety scores than mothers in the control group (Both p-values are <0.001, and the eta squared values were 0.364 and 0.555, respectively). TRAIT anxiety scores of mothers in the IgE-mediated group were significantly higher than mothers in both the FPIAP group and the control group (Both p-values are <0.001, and the eta squared value was 0.641). Role limitations because of physical health, role limitations because of emotional health, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, and general health scores of mothers in the IgE-mediated group were lower than mothers in the control group (All p-values are <0.001, and the eta squared values were 0.185,0.197, 0.626, 0592, 0.274, and 0.342, respectively). Conclusion: Mothers of children with both IgE-mediated food allergy and FPIAP may experience higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders, as well as decreased quality of life. Mothers of children with IgE-mediated food allergies experience more psychosocial disorders than mothers of children with FPIAP.