Abstract
The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) disrupted health, economy, and food systems across the United States. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between food access worries, food assistance use, and purchasing behaviors and food insecurity during COVID-19 among residents of New York State. New Yorkers were recruited to complete a web-based survey through Qualtrics. The survey took place in the summer and fall of 2020 and asked respondents about food access worries, food assistance use, food insecurity, and food purchasing behaviors. Chi-square analysis examined the relationships between food concerns, food assistance use, purchasing behaviors, and demographic characteristics by reported food insecurity, and significant results were analyzed in a series of logistic regression models. Results showed that higher food worries, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use, reported food assistance and delivery as food sources, and self-reported Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Future research is needed to assess the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on food access and food insecurity, particularly among underserved groups. Measures that provide additional money for food and improved food access can alleviate barriers to accessing enough healthy food at this time.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) had a major impact on health, social life, and the economy across the globe
This study extends the current research area by examining the relationship between food purchasing behaviors and food insecurity
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between food access concerns, food assistance use, and purchasing behaviors and food insecurity in a sample that oversampled New York State residents who were Black, Hispanic, and low-income or low-education during COVID-19
Summary
The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) had a major impact on health, social life, and the economy across the globe. Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to work essential jobs, such as those in retailing, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and the food system, which pay lower wages and lack flexibility and paid sick leave [16,17,18,19,20,21]. These jobs were more likely lost during the pandemic, which further exacerbated financial issues among groups that were already more likely to suffer from food insecurity prior to the pandemic [22, 23]
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