Peer-reviewed article
Associations between daily food insecurity and parent and child well-being.
Caitlin T. Hines, Samantha Steimle, Rebecca M. Ryan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study followed a small group of parents and their school-aged children (ages 4-11) and recorded food insecurity, mood and behavior each day. It looked at whether days with more food insecurity went along with worse well-being for parents and children. Food insecurity was linked to well-being on a daily basis, with stronger and longer-lasting links for parents than for children. Parent mood and behavior explained part of the link to children's mood and behavior, but food insecurity was also linked to child well-being on its own.
Key points
- Daily changes in food insecurity predicted daily changes in parent and child well-being.
- Associations were stronger and lasted longer for parents than for children.
- Parent mood and behavior partially explained the link between food insecurity and child mood and behavior.
- Food insecurity was also independently associated with child well-being.
- The authors describe it as the first study of daily links between food insecurity and parent and child well-being.
Limitations
The abstract describes a small sample of families (the parent number is partly cut off, apparently around 35) and relies on parent-reported measures. It shows associations, not proof of cause, and it does not say where in the US or which families were studied.
Abstract
= 35) and their school-aged children (ages 4-11, 50% female) alongside daily measures of parent-reported food insecurity and parent and child mood and behavior, we examine how daily changes in food insecurity predict daily changes in parent and child well-being, and the extent to which food insecurity operates through parents to affect children. This method not only explores families' daily, lived experiences of food insecurity, but improves upon the methodological issues undermining past research. Findings indicate that food insecurity influences parent and child well-being on a daily basis, but that associations are stronger and sustain longer for parents than children. Further, parent mood and behavior partially explain the association between daily food insecurity and child mood and behavior, but food insecurity is also independently associated with child well-being. This study is the first to examine daily associations between food insecurity and parent and child well-being. Its implications for food assistance programs, policies, and the future of food insecurity research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).