The Role of Personality in Daily Food Allergy Experiences

Abstract

Food allergies present numerous challenges to coping in everyday life. Even simple things like planning a lunch with a friend can be stressful for people with food allergies. But are some people more adversely impacted by having a food allergy than other people? This paper addressed this question by investigating whether individual differences in the Big Five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) are related to food allergy-related problems in everyday life among adults with food allergies. Participants were 108 adults (85% female; mean age = 40.2; age range 18–87) with a physician-diagnosed food allergy [most commonly to gluten (54.6%), peanuts (21.3%), cow's milk (16.7%), and shellfish/seafood (16.7%)]. Participants completed an initial online survey that measured demographics, food allergy information, and personality traits using the Big Five Inventory (John et al., 1991). For 2 weeks, participants completed a daily online survey that queried the occurrence of 25 food allergy issues that day and participants' overall stress and mood that day. Neuroticism did not predict more frequent allergy issues or greater stress/poorer mood on days with more allergy issues. Instead, higher openness to experience predicted a range of issues including going hungry because there is no safe food available, problems finding suitable foods when grocery shopping, feeling anxious at social occasions involving food, being excluded, and feeling embarrassed and poorly understood about their food allergy. Conscientious people were less embarrassed or self-conscious about their food allergy, but they had more problems eating out, and their positive mood was more impaired by allergy issues than their less conscientious peers. Extraversion and agreeableness played minor roles. Personality testing can identify people that may have difficulty living with food allergies–such as those higher in openness to experience.

Food allergy issues among consumers: a comprehensive review

“…In addition, the added burden has been found to cause strain on marriages, limit the child’s ability to play at a friend’s house or participate in parties, sports, and camps, and even cause caregivers to adjust their work schedules or stop working altogether to homeschool their children ( 5 ). One study exploring personality traits and FA experiences found that extroverted FA adults report more social challenges attributed to their FA, “such as people being unkind toward them and feeling anxious or stressed in social occasions and lack of understanding from others ( 18 ). Food allergies can be managed, but the burden can often be overwhelming when people do not feel they have adequate support to ensure their safety in food-related situations.…”

Food allergy policies, procedures, motivators and barriers related to ollowing food allergy practices in Metro Orlando restaurants

“…Cummings et al (2010) studied the psychosocial impact of food allergy and food hypersensitivity in children, adolescents, and their families and highlighted the subjective nature of living with food allergies. Personal perception can be influenced by emotional, social, cognitive factors, expectations, and coping styles (Conner et al, 2018;Cummings et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2013). Furthermore, a study in the U.S. reported that FHS has a significant effect on the child's school attendance, and 10% of the study group home-schooled their children because of the child's food allergy (Bollinger et al, 2006).…”