Social representations of the nutritionist in health sciences students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70208/3007.8245.v6.n1.328Keywords:
social representations, nutritionist, health sciences students, interprofessional collaboration, symbolic capitalAbstract
Social representations of the nutritionist were analyzed among students from health sciences degree programs at the Institute of Health Sciences of the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo during the second semester of 2025. The study addresses the issue of the limited social and institutional recognition of nutrition within the health field, despite its relevance to prevention and the comprehensive management of health problems. Using a qualitative approach grounded in Social Representations Theory and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of fields and symbolic capital, the research explored the meanings and symbolic hierarchies that shape the figure of the nutritionist in university training. Data were collected through seven focus groups, one per degree program, with a total of 56 participants selected through purposive sampling and theoretical saturation. The results reveal a representational core that positions the nutritionist as a clinical and auxiliary actor, subordinated to medical authority, while social, community, and preventive functions remain peripheral. Additionally, a gap is identified between the normative discourse of interprofessional collaboration and students’ lived experiences, contributing to the reproduction of symbolic hierarchies within the health field.
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