When to Disclose? The Impact of Anaphylactic Food Allergies on Identity and Interpersonal Relationships

Cornejo, Olivia

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

When to Disclose? The Impact of Anaphylactic Food Allergies on Identity and Interpersonal Relationships Público Deposited

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Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/bv73c1433

Abstract

This study focuses on the under researched social implications of anaphylactic food allergies in the communication discipline. Research explored how the disclosure of anaphylactic food allergies, identity, and interpersonal relationships impact one another through 10 in-person interviews with individuals diagnosed with anaphylactic food allergies. Drawing from existing scholarship in the realms of food allergies, stigma, communication identity theory (CTI), and the Disclosure Decision Making Model (DD-MM), several key themes emerged. Identity impacts were varied among participants; however, data revealed that identity was fluid and flexible, influenced by context, and changed over time. Relational impacts saw disclosure decisions greatly affected by relevance and proximity factors with specific implications depending on whether relationships were platonic or romantic. In platonic relationships, proximity played a role in who participants disclosed their allergy to with relevance impacting when in relationships an allergy was disclosed. Romantic relationships were found to be more impacted by the disclosure of an anaphylactic allergy with disclosure occurring earlier in relationships due to increased risk and required lifestyle changes by romantic partners. Tensions between disclosure, identity, and interpersonal relationships were also explored in the form of unwanted attention versus awareness and downplaying severity of an allergy versus medical reality. Ultimately, this study contributes new knowledge for understanding the management and negotiation of stigmatized identities in the form of anaphylactic food allergies.

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