Interaction of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Food Insecurity on Youth Delinquency

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with both poor health outcomes and increased delinquency in youth. Similarly, food insecurity increases the risk for delinquent behaviors and has been shown to co-occur with traumatic experiences in youth. However, there is limited research that examines the interaction between ACEs and food insecurity on the likelihood for youth to commit delinquent activities. Thus, it was hypothesized that the experience of food insecurity would amplify the effect of ACEs on a youth’s likelihood to commit delinquent acts like property damage and interpersonal violence.

Methods: The sample comprised 2,787 youth between the ages of 11 to 19 who resided in a juvenile correction facility for the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS). The MSS is a triannual statewide survey that covers a wide variety of youth behaviors. The primary independent variable of ACEs was based on a total score of ten binary events (yes/no). The moderator of food insecurity was based on self-report of having to skip meals because family did not have enough money. Delinquency was captured with the three binary indicators (yes/no) of property damage, shoplifting, and physical assault within the past 12 months. Sample was, on average, 16.35 years old (SD=1.55) and reported 2.10 ACEs (SD=2.08). Youth were majority male (55.87%) and 50.70% identified as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC). Food insecurity was indicated in 12.59% of the sample. Path analysis based on logistic regression within Mplus was used to test the interaction effects on each indicator of delinquent behavior separately. Missing data was addressed with full information maximum likelihood in all models.

Results: Base model with no interactions showed that ACEs significantly increased the likelihood for property damage (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.29), shoplifting (OR=1.27), and physical assault (OR=1.32). Food insecurity in the base model only significantly predicted property damage (OR=1.34) and physical assault (OR=1.45). A test of the interaction between ACEs and food insecurity did not show statistical significance for any of the three delinquency indicators. Since the interaction term did approach significance for both property damage and shoplifting, interaction plots within Mplus were examined to see if they crossed zero. Plots did indicate that a meaningful interaction despite the lack of statistical significance; results suggest that the positive association of ACEs on property damage and shoplifting is attenuated in youth who report food insecurity compared to their peers who are food secure.

Conclusion: Initial results paralleled with existing literature that both ACEs and food insecurity have positive associations with a variety of delinquent behaviors. Contrary to the study hypothesis, food insecurity appeared to attenuate, as opposed to amplify, the effect of ACEs on both property damage and shoplifting. Results suggest that trauma-informed nutrition assistance programs are a promising approach to decrease delinquency; particularly if programs prioritize food security before focusing on issues related to the experience of ACEs. Further research is needed to replicate these findings.