Food allergy and social anxiety in a community sample of adolescents

This investigation explored the relationship between food allergies and social anxiety in a school-based sample of adolescents. A total of 849 participants, including 87 endorsing food allergies, completed standardized questionnaires assessing social anxiety symptoms. Food allergic participants answered questions assessing allergy characteristics, worry and avoidance related to allergen exposure and allergy disclosure, and parental worry and control. Boys with food allergies reported higher social anxiety than boys without food allergies, though no differences were found in girls. Social anxiety was correlated with parental worry and control. Findings may inform anxiety prevention programs for youth with food allergies.