Persistent Food Insecurity among Rural US Families with Children

Abstract

Food insecurity has largely been portrayed as a transitory experience in the general US population. In rural America, where economic opportunities are shrinking rapidly, persistent food insecurity may be more prevalent. This study estimated the prevalence of persistent food insecurity over three years, and characterized predictors of persistent food insecurity. Using longitudinal data from a sample of low-income women with children in rural counties in fourteen U.S. states, we test the relationships of prior measures of human capital, financial resources, and demographic characteristics, to persistent food insecurity. Almost one-quarter of families (23.4%) had persistent low/very low food security, while 39.6% were persistently food insecure when the marginally food secure were included. Chronic illness and lasting depression were directly associated with persistent food insecurity. Higher education, but not a high school education, was inversely related to persistent food insecurity. Stable employment was inversely related to persistent low/very low food security, but to not any food insecurity. Persistent food insecurity is exacerbated by poor health, and only higher education and stable employment protect rural mothers from persistent food insecurity. This study was funded by the Cornell University Institute for Social Sciences and the Agricultural Experiment Station (Project NYC-399401).