“You Just Have to Build a Bridge and Get Over It”: Low-Income African American Caregivers’ Coping Strategies to Manage Inadequate Food Supplies

Abstract

This article examines the experiences of food shortages among a sample of low-income, African American caregivers of preschoolers and how they coped with the risk of inadequate food supplies. Data derived from qualitative interviews identified multiple food-based, social network-based, and institution-based strategies that caregivers used to alleviate or prevent food shortages. The configuration of strategies varied among households and reflected different approaches for coping with inadequate food supplies. Highlighting the resilience of low-income families, these findings expand on current research that misses the complex and diverse ways households coped with food shortages. The research also suggests strength-based interventions grounded in the firsthand experiences of households.