Incarceration exposure and food insecurity during pregnancy: Investigating the moderating role of social support

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between exposure to incarceration and maternal food insecurity during pregnancy, and the moderating role of social support in this process. Using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), logistic regression models were used to assess the association between incarceration of a woman or her partner in the year before birth and the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Moderation analyses were conducted by interacting levels of social support and incarceration exposure. Results indicate that exposure to incarceration either personally or vicariously through a partner increased the odds of food insecurity, while women with higher levels of social support were at lower risk for food insecurity. Moreover, study findings demonstrate a negative interaction between social support and incarceration, indicating that social support buffers against the harmful effects of incarceration for maternal food insecurity during pregnancy. Implications of the findings for theory and public policy are discussed