Experiences of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Are Associated with Food Insecurity and Poor Health

Abstract

This study examines the associations of mothers’ experiences of discrimination (EODs) with household food insecurity (HFI), physical health, and depressive symptoms, while taking into account the influence of mothers’ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and public assistance participation. Mothers (N = 1372) of young children under age 4 who self-identified as Latinx, Non-Latinx Black/African American and Non-Latinx white answered questions for a cross-sectional survey in an emergency room in a large children’s hospital in Philadelphia between 2016 and 2018. Logistic regression was used to model associations of EODs in specific settings with HFI, depressive symptoms, and physical health. Compared to those without EODs, mothers with EODs from police/courts and in workplaces had higher odds of HFI, AOR =2.04 (95% CI: 1.44–2.89) and AOR = 1.57 (95% CI: 1.18–2.11), respectively. Among Latinx mothers, EODs in school were associated with nearly 60% higher odds of HFI and nearly 80% higher odds of depressive symptoms. Latinx and Black mothers with EODs in workplaces had higher odds of HFI (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.21–2.56 and AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05–2.36, respectively), compared to mothers without EODs. Discrimination is associated with HFI, depressive symptoms, and poor health. Public health interventions intended to improve food security and health may be only partially effective without simultaneously addressing racism and discrimination.

Emerging adults’ intersecting experiences of food insecurity, unsafe neighbourhoods and discrimination during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak

“…The small number of prior investigations regarding this relationship have focused on households with children (13,14) . For example, research involving Latinx and Black/African American mothers of young children in Philadelphia found that experiences of discrimination from police, courts and in workplaces were associated with a greater likelihood of being food insecure (13) . Discrimination in workplaces, schools and courts as examined by existing studies might plausibly be linked to greater food insecurity by pathways involving higher rates of incarceration, lower wages, lower rates of promotion and poorer job security.…”

Food Insecurity and Eating Disorders: a Review of Emerging Evidence

“…With regard to underlying mechanisms on the pathway from food insecurity to ED pathology, there are undoubtedly a number of important mechanisms to explore. One such possibility might be to investigate the roles of stigma and discrimination, as food insecurity is associated with higher levels of weight stigma [ 45 ••] and experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination [ 80 ]. In addition to elucidating temporality and underlying mechanisms, more work is needed to better understand the nature of the relationship between food insecurity and ED pathology with regard to factors such as development and ED presentation.…”

Factors Associated with Food Insecurity Following Hurricane Harvey in Texas

“…Food insecurity has also been associated with poor health outcomes in children, including higher rates of acute infections, developmental problems, mental health problems [8], and chronic conditions [3,[9][10][11][12]. Food insecurity disproportionately affects households in rural areas, headed by a single adults with children [13], predominantly Black (non-Hispanic) households [14], and households with children under the age of six-many of the same groups that are socially vulnerable to disasters [15]. Disasters also increase risk for food insecurity as prevalence is higher among individuals who experience a change in their life circumstances such as changes in financial obligations, household composition, or housing stability [13,16], all possible consequences of disasters for exposed households.…”

“…From an ecological perspective, the health outcome of food insecurity is influenced by factors from across the socioecological model. Individual level factors such as physical and mental health have been associated with food insecurity [34]; a person's race and ethnicity, income, and partnership can also influence such issues [14,[43][44][45][46]. At the household or social level, housing stability, social support, coping, and family decision making under financial constraint influence food security [47][48][49].…”