Food and Feelings in Residential Child Care

Citation

Emond R, McIntosh I & Punch S (2014) Food and Feelings in Residential Child Care. British Journal of Social Work, 44 (7), pp. 1840-1856. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct009

Abstract
The selection, preparation and consumption of food are everyday experiences; however, the social and symbolic meaning attached to such practices varies widely. This paper presents findings from a research project which aimed to explore how such food practices were experienced, produced and maintained within residential children's homes in Scotland. Data were generated over a year-long fieldwork period during which participant observation was undertaken alongside qualitative interviews and/or focus groups with sixteen children and forty-six adults. The paper emphasises the importance of food and food practices to the ways in which children and staff living and working in residential care manage, express and contain feelings and emotions.

Keywords
Children; feelings; food; residential care

Journal
British Journal of Social Work: Volume 44, Issue 7

People

Professor Ruth Emond

Professor, Social Work

Professor Samantha Punch

Professor, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology