Impact of Recession on Food Insecurity Among Low-Income Families: Findings from 2005 - 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Background/Purpose

The adverse impact of the economic recession on American households have been far reaching, affecting various aspects of people’s lives, including health and food security. While the evidence in place highlights factors that may be associated with food insecurity, there is a dearth in evidence with respect to predictors of food insecurity during times of adversity. Understanding these factors will help us to identify protective factors during times of hardships, and develop more responsive policies and interventions . Guided by the Family Stress Theory, this study addresses the following research questions: (1) What was the trend in prevalence of food insecurity among low-income families before, during and after recession? (2) What individual and household characteristics were associated with food insecurity among low-income families during the study period? (3) How did the trend in prevalence of food insecurity vary by individual and household characteristics?

Methods

Data were drawn from the 2005-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) (N=3,701). We included adults who were at least 21 years old, and reported a household income of no more than 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL). After a listwise deletion of missing values, a total of 3,701 subjects were selected for this study.

Descriptive statistics were conducted to summarize the sample’s characteristics. Logistic regression was conducted to show changes in the prevalence of food insecurity, and identify potential predictors of food insecurity and potential moderators of changes in food insecurity prevalence over time. Results of logistic regression models were weighted on account of complex survey design to represent the low-income U.S. population.

Results

Results indicate that the prevalence of food insecurity has been increasing since the recession among low-income household in general. Being female, being married or living with a partner, and completing high school had significantly negative associations with food insecurity. Non-Hispanic Blacks were significantly less likely to be food insecure than Non-Hispanic Whites.

The changes of prevalence of food insecurity vary by gender, race and SNAP participation. Recession seems to negatively affect food security for men than for women. However, men recovered from food insecurity better than women after recession. Blacks recovered better from food insecurity compared to other ethnic groups. However, the negative effects of the recession on food security seemed to last longer in Black and Hispanic households compared to White households. SNAP-participants recovered better from food insecurity than non-participants after recession.

Conclusions and Implications

Results suggest that the impact of recession on food insecurity was not uniform. Females and racial minorities continue to struggle in meeting their consumption needs. Research is needed to inform policy interventions sensitive to those vulnerable populations. Attention could be devoted to understanding the socio-ecological milieu in which such households are located. The fact that SNAP participation is effective in reducing household food security even during difficult times deserves attention. Attention could also go into streamlining SNAP policies and procedures in order to enhance the program’s accessibility.