Support and negativity in interpersonal relationships impact caregivers' quality of life in pediatric food allergy.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined interpersonal relationship processes as they relate to health-related quality of life (HRQL) in caregivers of food-allergic children. Research questions explored the relative contributions of social support and social negativity to caregivers' adaptation as well as mechanisms of moderation, mediation, and moderated mediation through which these influences affect the association of time since children's food allergy diagnosis to caregivers' HRQL.


METHODS
Caregivers (N = 299) of food-allergic children were recruited from parent groups associated with a food allergy nonprofit organization. Participants completed web-based questionnaires assessing demographics and child allergy characteristics, the extent of support and negativity experienced in their social relationships related caregiving, and their HRQL. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine relations among time since diagnosis, interpersonal relationship processes, and caregiver HRQL.


RESULTS
Social negativity was directly related to diminished caregiver HRQL and was a stronger predictor of caregiver HRQL than social support. The effect of time since diagnosis on caregiver HRQL was indirect through social support, and this mediating effect did not depend on caregivers' experience of social negativity.


CONCLUSIONS
Interpersonal relationship processes appear influential in the adaptation of caregivers in the context of pediatric food allergy. Psychosocial interventions targeting support and negativity in caregivers' social relationships may help improve their HRQL.
Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 131 Home Economics Building, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0236, USA, nwilliams17@unl.edu.
Natalie A
NA
Williams
Maren
M
Hankey
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D006296:Health Services; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult