(P20-061-24) Characterizing Food Security Status Over the Life Course in the National Longitudinal Youth Survey 1979 Cohort: A Novel Application of Sequence Analysis

Objectives: Little is known regarding the timing and persistence of food insecurity over the life course. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine whether there are distinct trajectories of food security status over the life course among U.S. adults.

Methods: This was a secondary longitudinal data analysis of the National Longitudinal Youth Survey 1979 (NLSY79) cohort. The sample included participants who completed surveys from age 22 to age 45 years (1979-2010; N=7,320). The 2008 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility requirements for household income and assets were used as a proxy for food security status. Annual eligibility from ages 22 to 45 was determined. Sequence analysis was used to quantify differences between individual-level food security trajectories and cluster analysis was used to group similar trajectories. This method is being validated in the Health and Retirement Study, using income and assets data between 1998 and 2012, and comparing it with 2013 food security estimates, based on the USDA Six-item Short Form Food Security Survey Module.

Results: The following 7 food security groups were identified in NLSY79: 1) persistently food secure (65%); 2) food secure with bouts of food insecurity in emerging and early adulthood (8%); 3) food secure through middle adulthood and food insecure in later adulthood (5%); 4) food secure with bouts of food insecurity throughout adulthood (6%); 5) food insecure through middle adulthood but food secure in later adulthood (6%); 6) food insecure with bouts of food security in emerging and early adulthood (4%); and 7) persistently food insecure (6%). The validation testing analysis in the Health and Retirement study is in progress.

Conclusions: For some Americans, food insecurity is a multi-decade exposure, while for others, life course food security status is dynamic over time. Future research could examine these trajectory groups as social determinants of health. Food insecurity is modifiable, therefore, findings could be used to inform policies on national food assistance programs.

Funding Sources: National Institute of Aging