Mentor/s
Dr. Tricia Lewis (lewisp@sacredheart.edu)
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
This study investigates the correlation between family nutrition and the prevalence of developmental delays in children aged 5 to 10 years in the United States. Using data from the 2023 National Survey of Children’s Health, we explored the impact of household food security on the occurrence of developmental delay. Our results of the study revealed a statistically significant association between food insecurity and developmental delays. This supports the hypothesis that limited access to nutritious food increases the likelihood of developmental challenges. Families who reported inconsistent or insufficient access to nutritious meals were more likely to report that their child had been diagnosed with a developmental delay. These results are consistent with existing literature emphasizing the critical role of early childhood nutrition in physical, cognitive, and emotional development. While the study benefits from a large, nationally representative sample, limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data which have the potential to effect findings. Future research should consist of using longitudinal data and consider confounding factors to better conclude causal relationships. This study underscores the importance of family-level nutritional interventions and policies in reducing developmental disparities and supporting children’s long-term health and overall development .
College and Major available
Health Science
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Best Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Transformative for Social Justice
The Effect of Family Nutrition on the Presence of Developmental Delays in Children Age 5-10 Years Old
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
This study investigates the correlation between family nutrition and the prevalence of developmental delays in children aged 5 to 10 years in the United States. Using data from the 2023 National Survey of Children’s Health, we explored the impact of household food security on the occurrence of developmental delay. Our results of the study revealed a statistically significant association between food insecurity and developmental delays. This supports the hypothesis that limited access to nutritious food increases the likelihood of developmental challenges. Families who reported inconsistent or insufficient access to nutritious meals were more likely to report that their child had been diagnosed with a developmental delay. These results are consistent with existing literature emphasizing the critical role of early childhood nutrition in physical, cognitive, and emotional development. While the study benefits from a large, nationally representative sample, limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data which have the potential to effect findings. Future research should consist of using longitudinal data and consider confounding factors to better conclude causal relationships. This study underscores the importance of family-level nutritional interventions and policies in reducing developmental disparities and supporting children’s long-term health and overall development .
Students' Information
Hailey Conklin, Health Science- Public Health, Pre Occupational Therapy, Minors in Psych and Honors. Graduation May 2025
Nadia Bjaelker, Health Science, Radiography Program , Graduation Spring 2026
Sophia Kalosinis, Health Science Public Health, Graduates May 2025
Honorable Mention, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential 2025 Award