A Review of Domestic Research Trends on Dietary Life and Mealtime Support for Students with Special Educational Needs

Key Points

• This research aims to systematically analyze domestic studies on dietary life and mealtime support for students with special educational needs, presenting future research directions.
• Conducted a systematic literature analysis of articles and theses published from 2000 to January 2026 in Korea.
• Classified the selected 76 studies into non-intervention (58 studies) and intervention (18 studies) research based on the theoretical framework of IADL and QoL.
• Examined trends and gaps in research focusing on students with special educational needs.
• Research predominantly focused on intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, with little on meal preparation and organization tied to IADL.
• Positive effects were reported in intervention studies, yet generalization and QoL-related outcomes were rarely addressed.
• There was a fragmented research structure across fields such as special education, nutrition, and rehabilitation, making integrated understanding challenging.