Nutr Res Pract.  2023 Apr;17(2):356-370. 10.4162/nrp.2023.17.2.356.

Causal relationship among quality factors, emotional responses, and satisfaction of school food service in Henan province, China

• Li M
• Lee YE

• KMID: 2541371
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2023.17.2.356

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
School food service has played an important role in promoting the health and physical condition of students by providing students with a balanced and nutritious diet. Therefore, boosting the quality of school food service and improving the students’ satisfaction is critical. For this purpose, this study examined the structural causal relationship among the quality of school food service factors, emotional responses, and satisfaction in China.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
This study was conducted with 4th–6th-grade students from 6 junior high schools in Henan province of China, with 590 questionnaire responses (87.3%) collected and statistically analyzed.
RESULTS
The school food service quality factors (including menu management, dietary education, facilities management, price and food distribution management, and personal hygiene during meals) must be enhanced to boost the students’ satisfaction. In addition, the study used questionnaire survey data to validate the full mediation of students’ emotional responses between school food service quality factors and student satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
Students’ emotions also play an important role in influencing the quality of school food service, all of which affect the emotional responses of students. Therefore, students’ positive emotions are an important indicator for improving the quality of school food service. A national support policy is necessary for the ongoing maintenance and development of various programs that drive students' satisfaction and promote the adoption of education guidelines for school food service in China.

Keyword

School food service; quality factors; emotional responses; satisfaction

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Conceptual framework of the study.

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  Fig. 2 Results of the research hypothesis.*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

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