Child-Mother Fear and Anxiety During Skin Prick Test: Sociodemographic Correlates

This study aimed to assess fear and anxiety levels associated with skin prick testing (SPT), a minimally invasive procedure, in children and their mothers, and to examine the associations between these psychological responses and sociodemographic variables.

This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design.

The sample comprised 165 children aged 5-10 years and their mothers attending a pediatric allergy and immunology outpatient clinic. Following ethical approval and informed consent, data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the Children's Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S), the Child Fear Scale (CFS), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.

Child anxiety and fear decreased with increasing child age, while maternal anxiety increased as child age decreased (p < .05). Higher anxiety levels were observed in children residing in urban areas and those with pets (p < .05). Child fear was higher among children of mothers with higher education, employed mothers, and those living in urban settings (p < .05). Maternal anxiety was higher among mothers with higher education, urban residence, and pet ownership, but lower among mothers of children with a history of allergy (p < .05). Maternal anxiety was positively correlated with both child anxiety and fear (p < .05).

Sociodemographic factors, including maternal education, urban residence, and pet ownership, are significantly associated with anxiety levels in both children and their mothers during SPT.

These findings highlight the importance of assessing both child and maternal anxiety in a dyadic context. Tailored, family-centered nursing interventions targeting high-risk groups may help reduce procedural anxiety during pediatric allergy testing.