Opalinski, Andra

Global research on psychosocial factors related to food allergies and youth have increased significantly over the last decade. A plethora of countries provide literature indicating adolescents with food allergies experience social isolation, depression, anxiety, and fear. Most of the literature however favors parental perspectives with limited studies exploring adolescent subjective perspectives. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of adolescents living with food allergies; the goal was to bring awareness to the ascribed meaning of food allergies from the perspective of adolescents and the impact of living with food allergies from day-to-day. Watson’s caring science and Erikson’s psychosocial theory were guiding frameworks for the study with story theory used to guide individual semi-structured interviews (n=14) (11-14 years). Analysis of data entailed various steps congruent with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data: (1) Living with Restraints: A Way of Life, (2) Managing Exposure, (3) Experiencing Stigma, and (4) Experiencing Lack of Knowledge. Results indicated adolescents living with food allergies have unique experiences that contribute to psychosocial upheavals and that traditional biological management may be too simplistic for promoting whole adolescent well-being and healthy development. Study findings may contribute to evidence-based interventions that nurture care for the whole adolescent.

Obesity/overweight affects one-third of U.S. children. While the causes are multifactorial, increased consumption of away-from-home (versus at-home) meals has been shown to contribute to higher calorie and fat intakes. This study’s objective was to examine food/beverage provisions at faith-based children/youth events. Direct observation methodology was used for data collection from 10 churches (two to five observations/church) in Southeast FL. Food/beverages served on 31 occasions (26 meals, 5 non-meals) were documented/analyzed for nutrient content (Food Processor software). Main dishes were mostly pizza and pasta-based casseroles (45%) with white bread/rolls (side dish) (27%). Vegetables (non-potato) were served twice, and fruits five times but seldom eaten. Provided beverages were primarily sugar-sweetened (87%). Desserts/snack-foods were served at 55% of events. Foods were generally high in fat and/or sugar and contributed little to needed fruit / vegetable servings. These findings provide nutritional evidence to initiate dialogues within faith-communities about healthier food provisions at children/youth-related activities.

Despite the nursing code of ethics, nurses may stigmatize persons experiencing homelessness, and this can impact the quality of care given. Visual art has the potential to create dialogue and promote social change. However, there is little existing research on how art impacts those observing it. The purpose of this descriptive pilot study was to explore nurses’ perceptions surrounding homelessness by exposing participants to an artistic representation depicting homelessness and shared human connection. A deductive, qualitative approach was used to examine positive and negative word use in writings completed by graduate nursing students before and after viewing a photographic exhibit. Findings revealed little change in negative word use and an increase in positive word use. These findings suggest that visual art may have the potential to increase empathy and humanization toward the people depicted.