(The FASEB Journal. 2006;20:A6-A7.)
© 2006 FASEB
Change in food insecurity across time in poor rural families in the US
Christine M. Olson1,
Emily O. Miller2 and
Myla S. Strawderman3
1 Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 376 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853,
2 Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 370 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853,
3 Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 352 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853
ABSTRACT
The objective was to identify predictors of change in food insecurity status across time in rural low-income families. A sample of families with children and annual household incomes of less than 200 percent of the Federal poverty line was recruited from 16 rural counties in 10 states. The mothers in these families were interviewed three times, once in each year of the study, between 2000 and 2003. Complete data are available for approximately 200 families. Thirty-four percent of the families in the study were food secure in all three years, and 24% were persistently food insecure. Twenty-three percent of the families were food insecure in year one and became food secure over the course of the study, 6% became food insecure, and 13% fluctuated between food security and food insecurity. Predictor variables in four categories were examined: human capital, including physical health, mental health, life skills, knowledge of community resources, and education; social capital, focusing on social support; financial resources, including income and employment, expenses, and government benefits; and demographic characteristics, paying special interest to family of origin socioeconomic status. Preliminary results indicate that the mental and physical health of the mother, the mother’s ability to stretch groceries to the end of the month, family income, the mother’s employment status, and participation in the Food Stamp Program, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and housing assistance programs are important predictors of change in food insecurity status.
