Understanding Family Burden Associated with Pediatric Food Allergy: Contributions of Child Neophobia and Maternal Personality Traits

Abstract

Food allergy (FA) is a chronic condition that can markedly affect family quality of life (QoL). Children’s food neophobia (FN) may increase dietary management difficulties and parental stress, while maternal personality traits can shape family adjustment. This study examined the associations between maternal neuroticism, child FN, and the perceived impact of FA on family QoL, also considering the influence of child age. Sixty-three Portuguese mothers of children with physician-diagnosed FA completed a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and validated self-report measures: the Food Neophobia Scale for Children, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, and the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF). Preliminary correlations guided predictor selection, followed by multiple linear regression models (enter method) for each FAQLQ-PF subscale: Emotional Impact, Food Anxiety, and Dietary/Social Limitations. Higher maternal neuroticism, greater child FN, and older child age were significantly associated with a greater perceived impact of FA on family QoL. The models explained 35.5% of the variance in Emotional Impact, F (3, 58) = 12.19, p < .001; 35.5% in Food Anxiety, F (3, 58) = 12.19, p < .001; and 32.9% in Dietary/Social Limitations, F (3, 56) = 10.66, p < .001. These findings underscore the need to integrate psychological screening and tailored psychosocial support into allergy care, addressing both maternal emotional traits and child eating behaviors to promote adaptive family functioning.