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Community and Public Health Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P20-039-24) Assessment of Association of Psychosocial Factors With Food Insecurity Among Head Start Caregivers

Monday, July 1, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 533
Disclosure(s):
Kyra Foster, BS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Heather Schier, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Jerod M. Yank, BS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Food insecurity is a significant public health problem, particularly among low-income households with children. Little is known about the relationship between caregiver psychosocial factors and household food insecurity. The objective of this cross-sectional study of Head Start caregivers was to examine associations of resilience, self-efficacy for healthy family mealtime routines (HFMR), and social support with food insecurity.

Methods: This secondary analysis utilized baseline data from an 8-week, pre- to post-test community-based family mealtime intervention in Head Start families. The study was conducted in Head Start centers located in Columbus, Ohio. Caregivers completed validated surveys measuring psychosocial factors (resilience, self-efficacy for HFMR, and social support) and food insecurity. A higher scale of each psychosocial factor indicates better psychosocial domain, while higher food security scale indicates more severe food insecurity. Linear regression modeling was conducted to examine the associations between psychosocial factors and food insecurity, controlling for caregiver age, race, and government nutrition assistant programs.

Results: Participating caregivers (n=63) were primarily female (97%), Black (86%), and non-Hispanic (97%). The average age was 34.8 (SD 10.3) years (range 20-69 years), and nearly 40% were not employed or employed part-time. Adjusting for confounders, higher scores for resilience (β = - 0.428; p = 0.012) and self-efficacy for HFMR (β = - 0.264, p = 0.044) were significantly associated with reduced levels of food insecurity. Although higher social support was associated with lower food insecurity (β = - 0.296), it was not statistically significant (p = 0.093).

Conclusions: Results demonstrate a protective effect of personal internal strength, specifically resilience and self-efficacy for HFMR, on household food insecurity. Future research should examine the longitudinal association of key psychosocial factors with food insecurity.

Funding Sources: USDA NIFA CYFAR