Assessing Quality of Life in First- and Second-Generation Immigrant Children and Adolescents; Highlights from the DIATROFI Food Aid and Healthy Nutrition Promotion Program

Abstract

To compare first- and second-immigrant pediatric populations with a non-immigrant pediatric population in terms of quality-of-life metrics, a cross-sectional analysis using data from the DIATROFI Program was implemented. In total, n = 2277 students (mean age: 9(4) years) from public schools in Greece participating in the 2020–2021 school year were analyzed. The students’ immigration status (first-generation/second-generation) was defined as per the standard definition. The students’ health related-quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using a parental-perceived quality of life questionnaire. The sample included 4.8% first-generation and 21.2% second-generation immigrant students. Compared with non-immigrants, the first-generation immigrant students were more likely to have poor HRQoL (odds ratio (OR) = 2.82; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 11.75, 4.53), physical (OR = 1.91; 95%CI = 1.18, 3.10), social (OR = 1.94; 95%CI = 1.16, 3.22) and school function (OR = 2.52; 95%CI = 1.54, 4.13). Similar results were observed for second-generation immigrant students regarding HRQoL (OR = 1.68; 95%CI = 1.28, 2.21), physical (OR = 1.60; 95%CI = 1.23, 2.10) and school function (OR = 2.09; 95%CI = 1.58, 2.77). Children with one parent having a country of origin different that the country of residence had elevated odds of having poor emotional health (OR = 1.19; 95%CI = 0.87, 1.64). The family’s affluency level was interrelated with the connection of poor HRQoL and immigration status. The immigrant students have a poorer quality of life depending on their immigration generation and irrespective of their socioeconomic background.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Childhood and Adolescence: The Interrelation with Level of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Trajectories: Highlights from the DIATROFI Program (2021–2022)

“…The lack of improvement between baseline and follow-up scores was classified as a decrease or no improvement in HRQoL score. The reliability and fit of the factorial structure of the PedsQL in the DIATROFI database were evaluated in a previous publication [18], which confirmed the tool's reliability.…”

“…The school-based sampling procedure can be found in detail in another publication [18] but, in a nutshell, researchers accounted for the school area's socioeconomic deprivation level and access to adequate healthy food following a mixed methods approach. Overall, the included schools incorporate students mostly from low socioeconomic areas.…”

Nutritional Value of Meals Designed for a School-Based Food Aid Program and Comparison with Similar Commercial Products: An Example of Good Practice from the DIATROFI Program

“…The design, methodology, and sampling procedure of the DIATROFI Program are presented elsewhere [4,9]. In brief, the DIATROFI Program is a school-based food-assistance Program that aims to tackle the high food insecurity among students in Greece while also improving their dietary habits following the Mediterranean dietary pattern.…”