Parental self-efficacy in food allergy management: Determinants and challenges

Abstract

Background: Food allergy management requires dietary adherence, prevention of accidental exposures, and prompt reaction management. Identifying sociodemographic factors linked to low self-efficacy may improve management.

Methods: This study was conducted among parents of children diagnosed with food allergy who presented to our clinic. Participants completed the Turkish version of the Food Allergy Self-Efficacy Scale for Parents (T-FASE-P, previously validated as EBA-ÖZ) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES).

Results: A total of 280 parents (mothers, 85.4%; fathers, 14.6%) were included in the study. Of the children, 64.6% were boys and 35.4% were girls. The median parental age was 33 years (20-59), and the median child age was 25.5 months (3-213). Parents of children with egg and cow's milk allergy had lower T-FASE-P scores, while carrying an epinephrine auto-injector and baked egg tolerance were associated with higher scores (p < .05). Lowest scores related to school safety, cross-contamination, and travel. In multivariable analyses, only school attendance (p = .004) and cow's milk allergy (p = .002) remained significant. Subscale analyses showed that school attendance was associated with prevention and recognition/management (p = .002), parental employment with social activities (p < .001), and IgE-mediated allergy with recognition/management (p = .027), whereas cow's milk allergy was consistently associated with lower scores across all subscales (p < .05).

Conclusion: This study evaluated parental self-efficacy in relation to demographics. Cow's milk allergy was associated with lower, and carrying an adrenaline auto-injector with higher self-efficacy. These findings emphasize the need for targeted support for families managing high-risk allergens.

Keywords: allergy management; caregiver confidence; cultural validation; food allergy; parental self‐efficacy.