The Impact of Intolerance of Uncertainty on Protective Parenting: The Role of Parental Worry and Perception of Food Allergy Severit

Parents who are intolerant of uncertainty, who also have a child who has an unpredictable chronic health condition, such as food allergy, may be prone to protective parenting in order to keep their child safe from potential harm or distress. This study examined the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on parental perceptions of food allergy severity, worry about food allergy, and protective parenting attitudes and behaviors. Participants included 66 mothers of children ages 3--5 with a diagnosed food allergy. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing intolerance of uncertainty, worry about food allergy and perceived food allergy severity. Protective parenting was measured via questionnaires assessing attitudes about parental control, intrusive parenting behaviors, and reported number of family activities restricted because of the child's food allergy. Intolerance of uncertainty did not have a significant direct effect on any protective parenting variables. Parental worry and perceived allergy severity did not yield any significant indirect effects between intolerance of uncertainty and any protective parenting variables. Low reported levels of intolerance of uncertainty and the likely high level of maternal access to emotional and physical resources in this mid- to upper middle-class sample may help explain the lack of significant results. Future research should explore the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on parenting behaviors among a more diverse sample and broader child age range.