Allergist impact on anxiety: Findings from a survey of caregivers of patients with food allergy

Authors

• Victoria Nguyen, Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Allergy and Immunology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Lisa Bartnikas, Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Theresa Bingemann, Divisions of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, and Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Linda Jones Herbert, Division of Psychology and Behavioral Health, Children's National Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Amy Hahn, Nationwide Children's Hospital The Ohio State University. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Shivam Joshi, The Ohio State University, Center for Biostatistics. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Catherine Peterson, Atrium Health Levine Children's Psychology & Neuropsychology. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Kristina Roth, Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Hana B. Ruran, Case Western University School of Medicine. Electronic address: [email protected].
• J Andrew Bird, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Wanda Phipatanakul, Division of Pediatrics, Harvard, Medical School; Division of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, Dermatology & Rheumatology, Boston Children's Hospital. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Irene Mikhail, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology. Electronic address: [email protected].

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-10-2026

Journal

Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

DOI

10.1016/j.anai.2026.03.029

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is a growing public health concern that can often lead to significant anxiety and worry for patients and their families. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to understand the extent to which allergists may impact patients' and families' anxiety and worry related to food allergy. Specifically, we sought to understand if discussions, anticipatory guidance and interventions offered by the allergist led to a decrease, increase or no change in caregiver food allergy anxiety and worry. METHODS: We surveyed caregivers of children with IgE mediated food allergy about their food allergy anxiety and worry and also about the different discussions, guidance and interventions offered by their child's allergist. RESULTS: Overall, families reported they feel comfortable discussing anxiety and worry with their allergist, but only 15% reported they had discussed anxiety and worry with their allergist. About 1/3 of caregivers reported an increase, 1/3 reported a decrease and 1/3 reported no change in anxiety and worry after meeting with their child's allergist. Interventions to address anxiety and worry were uniformly rare. Discussing different ways of handling allergen avoidance was often associated with a decrease in caregiver anxiety and worry. CONCLUSION: Allergists' have a great deal of influence on family anxiety and worry. Discussing anxiety and worry, as well as tailoring anticipatory guidance, may lead to a decrease in family anxiety and worry.

APA Citation

Nguyen, Victoria; Bartnikas, Lisa; Bingemann, Theresa; Herbert, Linda Jones; Hahn, Amy; Joshi, Shivam; Peterson, Catherine; Roth, Kristina; Ruran, Hana B.; Bird, J Andrew; Phipatanakul, Wanda; and Mikhail, Irene, "Allergist impact on anxiety: Findings from a survey of caregivers of patients with food allergy" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 9075.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/9075

Department

Pediatrics