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Family Structure and Child Food Insecurity: Evidence from the Current Population Survey

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  • Kelly Stamper Balistreri

    (Bowling Green State University, Center for Family and Demographic Research)

Abstract

Food insecurity—the lack of consistent access to adequate amounts of food—remains a reality for many American families. Although children are usually protected from reductions in food intake even in households with low food security, about 8 percent of all households with children also experienced reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns. The research on child food insecurity and family structure is limited and the findings are mixed. Given the increasing complexity of families in the U.S., combined with sustained high levels of food insecurity during the last decade, a closer examination of this relationship is warranted. Using data from multiple years of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (N = 39,619 households) this study finds that children growing up in complex family households are more vulnerable to food insecurity, on average, than children growing up in two biological married-parent households. The results also show higher odds of child food insecurity among single mother households than among married biological or married stepfamilies suggesting a protective effect of marriage beyond economic resources.

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  • Kelly Stamper Balistreri, 2018. "Family Structure and Child Food Insecurity: Evidence from the Current Population Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(3), pages 1171-1185, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:138:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-017-1700-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-017-1700-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Isabel Maia & Teresa Monjardino & Raquel Lucas & Elisabete Ramos & Ana Cristina Santos, 2019. "Household food insecurity and socio-demographic determinants in young adults: findings from a Portuguese population-based sample," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(6), pages 887-895, July.
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    5. HanNa Lim & Su Hyun Shin & Hyunjung Ji, 2022. "The effect of natural disasters on household economic hardship during a pandemic," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(4), pages 1525-1560, December.

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