Hunger Matters: Findings on the Links Between Food Deprivation and Interpersonal Violence

Background/purpose: Food insecurity and hunger has manifold implications for healthy child and adult development. There has been growing awareness by social workers regarding the consequences of hunger and inadequate nutrition. While much research has been conducted on the links between food insecurity and health and developmental outcomes, fewer studies have examined the links between childhood hunger and interpersonal violence. Because poor nutrition is associated with neurodevelopmental problems and diminished impulse control we hypothesize that inadequate nutrition in childhood will be associated with interpersonal violence among adults. 

Methods: Study findings are based on data from Wave I (2001-2002) and Wave II (2004-2005) of the NESARC.   The NESARC is a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized U.S. residents aged 18 years and older. Data were collected through face-to-face structured psychiatric interviews conducted by trained U.S. Census workers. Respondents were asked: “How often did a parent or other adult living in your home make you go hungry or not prepare you regular meals?” Measures of violence were drawn from the antisocial personality disorder module of the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule – DSM-IV version. Four variables related to long-term patterns of self-control deficits were also employed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted that compared individuals reporting frequent exposure to hunger during childhood with individuals in the general population with respect to violent behavior and self-control stratified by gender and race.

Results: After controlling for sociodemographic factors and lifetime psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, individuals reporting frequent hunger during childhood were significantly more likely to report a lifetime history of interpersonal violence (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.81-2.38).  The relationship was significantly greater among men (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 2.15-3.45) than among women (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.36-1.96) and among non-Hispanic whites (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.86-2.82) and Hispanics (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 2.21-3.00), but no significant association was identified for African-Americans (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.53-1.06). Individuals reporting frequent childhood hunger were significantly more likely to report behaving impulsively (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.45-2.00), difficulty controlling anger (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04-1.36), and having frequent temper outbursts (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.61-2.03).

Conclusions/implications: To our knowledge, the present study is the largest investigation undertaken on the relationship between food deprivation and interpersonal violence. Overall, findings support the study hypothesis and indicate a possible pathway by which early food insecurity may be related to later interpersonal violence. Results suggest that greater attention be paid to the long-term behavioral effects of childhood hunger.  Including hunger as a factor in the assessment of interpersonal violence can provide a more complete understanding of these incidence and determining effective interventions.