Maternal intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, and adherence with food challenge referrals

Abstract

Anxiety regarding food challenges may serve an important role in parents' decisions to adhere to their child's food challenge referrals. This study examined the role of intolerance of uncertainty in food challenge referral adherence by assessing state/trait anxiety among mothers whose children were referred for a food challenge. Mothers whose children passed a food challenge reported significant decreases in anxiety regarding allergic reactions, but intolerance of uncertainty did not predict adherence. Trust in the physician was a primary reason mothers attended the food challenge, suggesting that physicians should consider the impact of the physician-patient relationship when treating these families.

Keywords: anxiety; food allergy; food challenge; intolerance of uncertainty; mothers.