The Prolepsis Institute participated in the 12th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois

The study “Assessing health-related quality of life in food insecure children: use of qualitative research” is conducted for the first time in a Mediterranean country undergoing severe economic crisis and it provides insight on students’ and their parents’ perceptions who participate on a food aid program implemented in public schools in deprived areas, on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). 

HRQoL in school children facing food insecurity is a multi-dimensional concept which includes domains related to physical, emotional, social and school functioning. According to the study, socio-emotional and school development of food insecure children constitute crucial issues that are connected with students’ social stigmatization, feelings of sadness, fear and anger as well as weak school performance. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the family’s economic status, food insecurity, as well as the mother’s emotional state are essential factors of HRQoL in elementary school children.

The qualitative research that took place within the Program DIATROFI, demonstrates the multiple positive effects of a school food aid program which provides healthy meals daily to all students in elementary schools located in deprived areas, some of those effects being the family’s financial aid, mothers’ emotional relief, improvement of students’ physical, emotional, social and school functioning.

For more information on the 12th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry visit: http://icqi.org