Food security among low-income immigrant households and the role of social capital: A case study of Somali-American households in the Midwestern United States

Abstract

Through analysis of primary data from 249 Somali American households in seven cities in the Midwestern United States, we present a case study, which reviews non-monetary constraints to food security, assesses food security and social capital in a low-income immigrant community, and estimates the relationship between food security and social capital. We measure social capital objectively as the size of the Somali American community in the urban center, while subjective (self-reported) measures of social capital include the respondents’ perception of support received from their community, interactions with members of their community, and membership in organized groups. Results confirm low levels of food security in Somali American population, a community that cannot be readily studied using secondary data such as the Current Population Survey due to the limited sample size. However, we find a positive association between objectively measured social capital and food security indicating higher levels of food security among respondents in larger Somali American communities within the study area. Association of food security with two self-reported measures (perceived community support and informal interactions) was inconclusive. The relationship between food security and the third self-reported measure (participation in organized groups) was not statistically significant.