(OR01-01-24) Differences in Socioeconomic and Nutrition Environment Explanatory Variables for Food and Nutrition Security Among US Households With and Without Children

Objectives: The objectives were to identify and compare socioeconomic and nutrition environment explanatory variables for food and nutrition security in households with and without children.

Methods: Secondary analysis was performed on an existing dataset collected in 2021 that consisted of households at risk for or experiencing food insecurity. Logistic regression was used to identify significant explanatory variables for food and nutrition security by presence or absence of children ( < 18 years of age) in the households. Explanatory variables included age; income; fruit and vegetable intake; scratch-cooked, fast food, and processed meals; utilization barriers to healthful meals; limited availability of foods; dietary and healthfulness choice; and shopping at dollar stores and convenience stores.

Results: For households with children, 74% and 38% had food and nutrition insecurity, respectively. For households without children, 64% and 30% had food and nutrition insecurity, respectively. For both household types, greater dietary choice increased odds (4-15 times) of food and nutrition security. In households with children, more fast-food meals increased odds (60%) of food security, while more processed meals and greater utilization barriers to healthful meals decreased odds (40%-50%) of food security. Greater utilization barriers also decreased odds (20%) of food security in households without children. Higher income and greater healthfulness choice increased odds (20% and 3 times) of nutrition security in households with children, while no/low (vs moderate/high) perception of limited availability of foods increased odds (5 times) for nutrition security in households without children.

Conclusions: Dietary choice appears to be a universally important factor affecting food and nutrition security in households at risk for or experiencing food insecurity. Differential associations between food and nutrition security and other household characteristics (e.g., healthfulness choice for households with children) suggests that the presence of children may need to be considered when designing interventions or proposing policy to reduce food and nutrition insecurity.

Funding Sources: USDA ARS