How to make gluten-free friends: A quasi-experimental study on the psychosocial benefits of celiac camps

Abstract

Objectives: Youth with Celiac Disease (CD) face social challenges, yet the benefits of specialized camps are under-researched. This study evaluated a week-long celiac camp's impact on social integration, illness identity, health management and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Design: A quasi-experimental waitlist design was used. Methods: One hundred eleven youth with CD (ages 8–16, 65% female) were assigned to a one-week camp in Switzerland (intervention; n = 66; 41 children aged 8–12 years and 25 adolescents aged 13–16 years) or a waitlist comparison group (n = 45; 34 children and 11 adolescents). Pre- and post-camp surveys assessed psychosocial outcomes, including friendships, illness identity and peer support (adolescents only), dietary adherence, perceived competence, subjective well-being and age-adapted HRQOL. Linear mixed models were used to analyse intervention effects. Results: Compared to the control group, camp participation significantly increased friendships with peers with CD and promoted a more adaptive illness identity among adolescents, especially for novice attendees. No effects were found for dietary adherence or perceived competence. Unexpectedly, campers reported a short-term worsening in the HRQOL domains of enjoyment (among children) and uncertainty (among adolescents) compared to the control, more strongly among novice campers. Conclusions: Celiac camps effectively foster social integration and positive illness identity development. However, the short-term impact on HRQOL is complex and may reflect a challenging “re-entry” to daily life after a highly supportive experience. These findings highlight the benefits of celiac camps while stressing the need for longitudinal research to understand and optimize their long-term impact.