Share

Kids with food allergies often bullied

accreditation

In the first-ever study to assess the social impact of food allergies in children, Mount Sinai researchers have found that approximately 35% of children with food allergies, who are over the age of five, were reported to have experienced bullying, teasing, or harassment as a result of their allergies.

Of those experiencing teasing or harassment, 86% were reported to have experienced repeated episodes. Classmates were the most common perpetrators, but surprisingly more than 20% reported harassment or teasing from teachers and other school staff. The data are reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Survey study

Led by Scott H. Sicherer, MD, Professor of Paediatrics, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, US, researchers analysed survey responses from 353 parents or caregivers of children with food allergies and food-allergic individuals. The survey was conducted at meetings of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network in Tarrytown, New York, Rosemont, Illinois, and Baltimore, Maryland in 2009.

"We know that food allergy in children affects quality of life and causes issues like anxiety, depression, and stress for them and their parents," said Sicherer. "However, our study is the first to explore teasing, harassment and bullying behaviours aimed at these children. The results are disturbing, as they show that children not only have to struggle with managing their food allergies, but also commonly bear harassment from their peers."

64% are teased

More than 43% were reported to have had the allergen waved in their face and 64% were reported as having experienced verbal teasing. No allergic reactions resulted from the bullying, but approximately 65% reported resulting feelings of depression and embarrassment.

"It was recently estimated that nearly one in 25 children has a food allergy," said Sicherer. "What is so concerning about these results is the high rate of teasing, harassment and bullying, its impact on these vulnerable children, and the fact that perpetrators include not only other children, but adults as well. Considering the seriousness of food allergy, these unwanted behaviours risk not only adverse emotional outcomes, but physical risks as well. It is clear that efforts to rectify this issue must address a better understanding of food allergies as well as strict no-bullying programs in schools."

17% of all kids bullied

A previous study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development showed that 17% of children in grades 6 through 10 reported being bullied. While this study was not designed to determine prevalence of bullying in children with food allergy, the number of patients bullied in the corresponding age group according to the survey is double that of the prior study. The authors suggest that school programs designed to reduce bullying should include information about the vulnerable population of children with food allergies. - (EurekAlert!, September 2010)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE