Doctoral Dissertation Research: Schools, Families and Children's Food Allergies

Brandeis University, Waltham MA

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary Doctoral Dissertation Research: Schools, Families and Children's Food Allergies Peter Conrad Vanessa Lopes Muñoz Brandeis University About 4% of children reported a food allergy in 2007-an increase of nearly 18% during the course of a decade. Preventing and responding to severe allergic reactions can require the involvement of many actors in schools, restaurants, and childcare centers. By examining how multiple actors adhere to food allergy policies and guidelines, this study seeks to fill an existing gap in sociological studies of health and illness. Intellectual Merit. A longstanding concern in sociology and in medicine is explaining under what conditions, and to what ends, people adhere to medical regimens. Conrad and others have argued that ill persons make decisions about following medical regimens largely based on their everyday lives, making the case that daily social interactions are at least as important as doctor-patient relationships. Conditions that are managed primarily through lifestyle changes,such as changes in diet,raise questions about the role of multiple actors in managing health conditions. To address these questions, this study examines how families and schools adhere to food allergy policies. Broader Impact. This study would expand knowledge about the management of health conditions that are rising in prevalence-food allergies. Results from this study may inform health policies related to an array of conditions that require intensive lifestyle changes, such as asthma, diabetes, and food intolerances. Findings may also be of interest to healthcare professionals, families, and school administrators. This research will be used for a doctoral dissertation and in undergraduate teaching.