The College of Nursing at the University of Baghdad hosted a defense of the master’s thesis titled “The Relationship Between Food Allergies in Childhood and Parental Anxiety and Depression: A Psychiatric Nursing Perspective” by student Omar Abdul-Moneim Rashid, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Salwa Ghazi Turki. The event took place in the college’s Continuing Education Hall
The thesis aimed to identify and explore the nature of the relationship between children’s various food allergies and the levels of anxiety and depression that parents may experience as a result of the burdens of care and the concerns associated with these medical conditions.
The study’s findings revealed a clear correlation between food allergies in children and elevated levels of anxiety and depression among their parents, highlighting the long-term psychological impact of a child’s physical disorders on the family. The researcher received a grade of “Very Good (High)” for his thesis.
The study recommended that healthcare providers and nursing staff conduct periodic screening and assessment of the mental health of parents of children with food allergies to provide early psychological support and alleviate their emotional stress.
This scientific work reinforces the College of Nursing’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on “Good Health and Well-being,” by offering a comprehensive perspective on psychiatric nursing that extends beyond the care of the sick child to include the mental health of parents and the family environment, thereby ensuring the development of a society that is healthy and stable both mentally and physically.
