Global Survey Reveals High Levels of Stress Among People with Food Allergies 

A recent global survey from the Global Access to Psychological Services for Food Allergy (GAPS) study has shown that people with food allergies and their caregivers experience a lot of stress and anxiety related to their allergies. The study included 1,329 adults with food allergies and 1,907 caregivers of children with food allergies from over 20 countries, revealing high levels of worry and distress. 

Key Findings:  

• Adults with Food Allergies: 67.7% reported feeling stressed and anxious about their allergies. 
• Caregivers: 77.2% of caregivers said they experienced stress because of their child’s food allergies.  
• Children: 51.6% of caregivers noted that their children faced anxiety and stress related to their allergies, especially worrying about having allergic reactions. 
• Many people with food allergies felt sad about how their condition affects their life. They were also worried about being bullied because of their allergies. 

The study found that very few people with food allergies are checked for mental health problems related to their condition. For example, in the UK and Canada, less than 10% of people with food allergies were checked during routine allergy appointments. This means many people who are stressed or anxious about their allergies are not getting the help they need.  

The results confirmed that less than 20% of people with food allergies have received mental health support. The biggest reason for this is the cost of treatment. To fix this, we need to start checking for mental health issues in everyone with food allergies, no matter their age. There should be affordable or free mental health support and more information available.  

The next step in the GAPS study will be to create an online support programme to help adults, caregivers and children with these issues, so that allergy anxiety no longer goes unnoticed. To read the full report visit: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.16204