IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i17p8990-d622393.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Food Insecurity and Child Development: A State-of-the-Art Review

Author

Listed:
  • Danielle Gallegos

    (School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
    Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, Queensland University of Technology, South Brisbane, QLD 4151, Australia)

  • Areana Eivers

    (School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia)

  • Peter Sondergeld

    (Library Services, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia)

  • Cassandra Pattinson

    (Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
    Research Fellow with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course.)

Abstract

Converging research indicates that household food insecurity impedes children from reaching their full physical, cognitive, and psychosocial potential. This state-of-the-art review examines the last decade of research to: (1) describe the impact of the severity and persistence of food insecurity on child development; (2) use a socio-ecological framework to examine significant proximal and distal factors which may interplay; and (3) outline directions for future research. We conducted a systematic review of six databases of published papers from 2011 to June 2021. The search was limited to high-income countries and children aged from birth to 12 years. From 17,457 papers, 17 studies were included in the final review. Transitioning between food security and food insecurity had a significant and lasting effect on academic/cognitive function and behavior (i.e., externalizing), however less clear relationships were seen for psychosocial outcomes and other behaviors examined (i.e., internalizing). There was significant variation in the measurement and thresholds used to define both food insecurity and child development outcomes. Subsequently, comparisons across studies are difficult. Several future recommendations, including incorporation of socio-ecological factors, is provided. In conclusion, this review supports the link between food insecurity and sub-optimal child development; however, there is an imperative to improve and extend current understanding to ameliorate the causes of food insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Danielle Gallegos & Areana Eivers & Peter Sondergeld & Cassandra Pattinson, 2021. "Food Insecurity and Child Development: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:8990-:d:622393
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/8990/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/8990/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leslie, Emily & Wilson, Riley, 2020. "Sheltering in place and domestic violence: Evidence from calls for service during COVID-19," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    2. Priest, Naomi & Paradies, Yin & Trenerry, Brigid & Truong, Mandy & Karlsen, Saffron & Kelly, Yvonne, 2013. "A systematic review of studies examining the relationship between reported racism and health and wellbeing for children and young people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 115-127.
    3. King, Christian, 2018. "Food insecurity and child behavior problems in fragile families," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 14-22.
    4. Denney, Justin T. & Brewer, Mackenzie & Kimbro, Rachel Tolbert, 2020. "Food insecurity in households with young children: A test of contextual congruence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    5. Jackson, Dylan B. & Johnson, Kecia R. & Vaughn, Michael G. & Hinton, Marissa E., 2019. "The role of neighborhoods in household food insufficiency: Considering interactions between physical disorder, low social capital, violence, and perceptions of danger," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 58-67.
    6. Fiese, Barbara H. & Gundersen, Craig & Koester, Brenda & Jones, Blake, 2016. "Family chaos and lack of mealtime planning is associated with food insecurity in low income households," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 147-155.
    7. Jackson, Dylan B. & Newsome, Jamie & Vaughn, Michael G. & Johnson, Kecia R., 2018. "Considering the role of food insecurity in low self-control and early delinquency," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 127-139.
    8. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian A. & Singh, Anita, 2019. "Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2018," Administrative Publications 320791, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    9. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    10. Stefania Velardo & Christina M. Pollard & Jessica Shipman & Sue Booth, 2021. "How Do Disadvantaged Children Perceive, Understand and Experience Household Food Insecurity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian A. & Singh, Anita, 2019. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2018," Economic Research Report 301167, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kimberley A. Baxter & Smita Nambiar & Tsz Hei Jeffrey So & Danielle Gallegos & Rebecca Byrne, 2022. "Parental Feeding Practices in Families Experiencing Food Insecurity: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-43, May.
    2. Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju & Mistura Adedoyin Rufai & Kabir Kayode Salman & Oluwadara Pelumi Omotayo & Bisola Oyediran & Mobolaji Victoria Adejoorin &, 2024. "Evaluating the Role of Households' Food Security Status and Socioeconomic Determinants on Child Mortality in Nigeria," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1687-1714, August.
    3. Xavier Bartoll-Roca & Gemma Serral Cano & Mònica Cortés Albaladejo & Katherine Pérez, 2024. "Household Economic Hardship and Child Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Parents’ Mental Distress in a Southern European City," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 89-107, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Denney, Justin T. & Brewer, Mackenzie & Kimbro, Rachel Tolbert, 2020. "Food insecurity in households with young children: A test of contextual congruence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    2. Cotti, Chad D. & Gordanier, John M. & Ozturk, Orgul D., 2020. "Hunger pains? SNAP timing and emergency room visits," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Amier Haidar & Christine Markham & Allison Marshall & Ru-Jye Chuang & Meredith Spence & Jennifer Boone & Mike Pomeroy & Rich Dachman & Jaimie N. Davis & Shreela V. Sharma, 2021. "Innovative Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Brighter Bites Produce Voucher Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    4. Zhongqi Fan & Amy M. Yang & Marcus Lehr & Ana B. Ronan & Ryan B. Simpson & Kimberly H. Nguyen & Elena N. Naumova & Naglaa H. El-Abbadi, 2024. "Food Insecurity across Age Groups in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-19, August.
    5. repec:ags:aaea22:335676 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick & Don E. Willis & Matthew L. Spialek & Emily English, 2020. "Food Insecurity in the Post-Hurricane Harvey Setting: Risks and Resources in the Midst of Uncertainty," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P & Gregory, Christian A & Singh, Anita, 2020. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2019," Economic Research Report 327207, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    8. repec:ags:aaea22:335700 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Maryruth Belsey-Priebe & Deborah Lyons & Jonathan J. Buonocore, 2021. "COVID-19′s Impact on American Women’s Food Insecurity Foreshadows Vulnerabilities to Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Becca B.R. Jablonski & Joy Casnovsky & Jill K. Clark & Rebecca Cleary & Beth Feingold & Darcy Freedman & Steven Gray & Xiaobo Romeiko & Laura Schmitt Olabisi & Mariana Torres & Alexandra E. van den Be, 2021. "Emergency Food Provision for Children and Families during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Examples from Five U.S. Cities," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 169-184, March.
    11. Elena Carrillo-Álvarez & Blanca Salinas-Roca & Lluís Costa-Tutusaus & Raimon Milà-Villarroel & Nithya Shankar Krishnan, 2021. "The Measurement of Food Insecurity in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-57, September.
    12. Marcus, Michelle & Yewell, Katherine G., 2022. "The Effect of Free School Meals on Household Food Purchases: Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    13. Makenzie L. Barr & Jade McNamara, 2022. "Community-Based Participatory Research: Partnering with College Students to Develop a Tailored, Wellness-Focused Intervention for University Campuses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, December.
    14. Bullinger, Lindsey Rose & Fleckman, Julia M. & Fong, Kelley, 2021. "Proximity to SNAP-authorized retailers and child maltreatment reports," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    15. Kathryn M. Janda & Nalini Ranjit & Deborah Salvo & Deanna M. Hoelscher & Aida Nielsen & Joy Casnovsky & Alexandra van den Berg, 2022. "Examining Geographic Food Access, Food Insecurity, and Urbanicity among Diverse, Low-Income Participants in Austin, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Hannah G. Calvert & Punam Ohri-Vachaspati & Michaela McQuilkin & Peter Boedeker & Lindsey Turner, 2021. "Prevalence of Evidence-Based School Meal Practices and Associations with Reported Food Waste across a National Sample of U.S. Elementary Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    17. Brittany M. Loofbourrow & Rachel E. Scherr, 2023. "Food Insecurity in Higher Education: A Contemporary Review of Impacts and Explorations of Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-15, May.
    18. Testa, Alexander & Fahmy, Chantal, 2021. "Incarceration exposure and food insecurity during pregnancy: Investigating the moderating role of social support," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    19. Suttles, Shellye A. & Babb, Angela & Knudsen, Daniel, 2022. "Submitted and Denied: Understanding Variation in Case Status Across Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Applications," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322195, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    20. Suttles, Shellye & Babb, Angela & Knudsen, Daniel C., 2024. "Submitted and Denied: Understanding variation in case status across Supplemental Nutrition assistance program (SNAP) applications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    21. Heather Kolakowski & Mardelle McCuskey Shepley & Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza & Nicolas R. Ziebarth, 2021. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change Workplaces, Healthcare Markets and Healthy Living: An Overview and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    22. Santos, Mateus Rennó & Testa, Alexander & Weiss, Douglas B. & Jackson, Dylan B., 2022. "County jail incarceration rates and food hardship in the United States," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:8990-:d:622393. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.