University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia; Western Sydney University, Sydney NSW, Australia.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2018 Nov;29(7):740-746. doi: 10.1111/pai.12955. Epub 2018 Aug 16.
Food allergy is an increasing concern worldwide. The significant impact of food allergies on quality of life and bullying has been well described in international studies. No studies have yet investigated the occurrence of bullying in children and adolescents with food allergies in the Australian population. This study aimed to characterize and examine the frequency of bullying and describe those most responsible and the effects of the bullying on the victims.
Questionnaires were developed based on those used in previous studies and were distributed throughout paediatric allergy clinics. Children and adolescents aged 10-19 with food allergies were recruited to complete the questionnaire independently, whilst parents completed the questionnaire on behalf of their children aged 5-9 with food allergies. The data were tabulated and analysed using descriptive statistics.
Ninety-three questionnaires were completed. Overall, 39 (42%) children experienced some form of bullying. This was higher in the older children and adolescent group, where 53% (18/34) were bullied. In addition, 23% (21/93) of the cohort were bullied or teased specifically because of their allergy. Food allergens had been used in the bullying in 24 cases, but no child reported being forced to eat foods to which they were allergic. Two adolescents experienced allergic reactions.
This study highlights that those with food allergy are subject to a high degree of bullying. This risk of bullying for children with food allergy indicates a significant social problem that requires addressing to positively assist these children.
食物过敏是一个在全球范围内日益受到关注的问题。国际研究已经充分描述了食物过敏对生活质量和欺凌的重大影响。目前还没有研究调查澳大利亚人群中食物过敏儿童和青少年遭受欺凌的情况。本研究旨在描述和分析食物过敏儿童和青少年中欺凌的发生情况，并描述欺凌者和受害者的特征，以及欺凌对受害者的影响。
根据以往研究中使用的问卷，制定了调查问卷，并在儿科过敏诊所进行了分发。招募了年龄在 10-19 岁的食物过敏儿童和青少年独立完成问卷，而年龄在 5-9 岁的食物过敏儿童的父母则代表他们完成问卷。使用描述性统计方法对数据进行制表和分析。
共完成了 93 份问卷。总体而言，39 名（42%）儿童经历过某种形式的欺凌。在年龄较大的儿童和青少年组中，这一比例更高，其中 53%（18/34）遭受过欺凌。此外，23%（21/93）的儿童因过敏而被欺凌或嘲笑。在 24 例欺凌事件中使用了食物过敏原，但没有儿童报告被迫食用过敏食物。有两名青少年出现了过敏反应。
本研究表明，食物过敏儿童遭受高度欺凌的风险。食物过敏儿童面临的这种欺凌风险表明存在一个需要解决的重大社会问题，以积极帮助这些儿童。
