Social-Emotional Competence, Executive Functions, and Diet Adherence in Children with Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease is a lifelong condition where the immune system reacts to gluten, requiring a strict gluten-free diet that can impact quality of life, especially in children. This study compares the social-emotional and executive function skills of children with and without celiac disease and explores how executive functions influence adherence to the gluten-free diet. Participants consisted of 132 parents with children aged between 5 and 13 (51 with celiac disease, 81 without any illness). Scales were used to measure children's social/behavioral competence, emotion regulation, and executive functions. According to the findings, children with celiac disease had fewer peer problems than those without celiac disease. However, they did not differ in terms of executive functions and emotion regulation skills. Additionally, working memory skills facilitated adherence to the gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease. The implications of the study findings for future research and practical applications are discussed.