Development of an Online Peer Support Program for Adolescents With Food Allergies

Objective: Food allergies pose unique psychosocial difficulties for adolescents, yet interventions to date have tended to focus on young children and their caregivers. Peer support interventions have been effective in other pediatric populations, and accumulating literature supports the use of digital platforms. This project describes the development, feasibility, and acceptability of an online video-based peer support program for adolescents with food allergies. Methods: “Teen Talks” were developed in partnership with Food Allergy Research and Education to allow youth with FA to connect on an audio-video platform. Teen Talks occur monthly and are open to all youth with food allergies aged 11–22 years. A peer leadership committee was created to generate monthly themes and facilitate breakout discussions. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via attendance and a program evaluation survey. Results: Attendance across 16 months of Teen Talks ranged from 40 to 91 participants each month, representing all major geographic regions of the United States and the full spectrum of eligible ages. Program evaluation data (N = 68 teens, 72 parents) suggest acceptability: 92.65% of teens and 91.89% of parents would recommend this program to another teen with food allergies. Quantitative and qualitative responses indicate that participants have developed friendships, feel less alone, and look forward to Teen Talks each month. Conclusions: Teen Talks are created through an iterative process that brings adolescent voices to the forefront. They are freely available nationwide, reducing barriers to access and promoting inclusion. Consistent high attendance and favorable evaluations suggest that Teen Talks are feasible and well-accepted.