“It’s a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really”: Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy

Roleston, C; Protudjer, JLP; Herbert, LJ; Jones, CJ; Warren, C; Brough, HA; Miah, M; O’Donnell, N; Marchisotto, MJ; Knibb, RC

Journal article

“It’s a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really”: Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy

Abstract:: Food allergy (FA) is a potentially life-threatening condition which is associated with poor quality of life and psychological distress in patients and caregivers. Although FA is often seen as a condition that affects children, increasing numbers of adults have FA, either as a condition they have grown up with or they were diagnosed as an adult. No recent research has explored the lived experiences of adults with FA and how they manage this condition. In response, this study aimed to qualitatively assess the current lived experiences of adults in the UK with FA, and how they manage this condition. Adults aged 18 years or over, with medically diagnosed FA, living in the UK were recruited through patient organisations and interviewed (n = 22). Data were analysed using template analysis. Two main themes were identified from the data. The first theme explores the influence of FA on the participants’ lives, in particular on their ‘psychological’ and ‘social’ well-being. The second theme unpacks the strategies participants employed to cope with and manage their FA, specifically participants’ deployment of ‘avoidance’, ‘control’, ‘self-monitoring’, and ‘adaptation’ to manage their FA and their anxieties around it. Clearly, FA has a profound, ongoing effect on the lives of adults. Few adults in this study were able to access any support to manage their FA and accompanying anxieties. Ways in which effective support can be made available to adults with FA must be identified and implemented.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

Actions

Email

Email this record

Send the bibliographic details of this record to your email address.

Your Email
Please enter the email address that the record information will be sent to.

-
Your message (optional)
Please add any additional information to be included within the email.
Share
Cite

Cite this record

APA Style

Roleston, C., Protudjer, J. L. P., Herbert, L. J., Jones, C. J., Warren, C., Brough, H. A., Miah, M., O’Donnell, N., Marchisotto, M. J., & Knibb, R. C. (2025). “It’s a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really”: Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy. Qualitative Health Research, 36(4-5), 333–344.

MLA Style

Roleston, C, et al. “‘It’s a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really’: Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy.” Qualitative Health Research, vol. 36, nos. 4-5, 2025, pp. 333–44.

Chicago Style

Roleston, C, JLP Protudjer, LJ Herbert, et al. 2025. “‘It’s a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really’: Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy.” Qualitative Health Research 36 (4-5): 333–44.
Print