Household food security responses for SNAP participants and nonparticipants

Abstract

We investigate the distinct associations between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and different experiences of food‐related hardship. Using a generalization of the Rasch model with USDA Economic Research Service 2022 data for 10 adult‐referenced food security survey items, we find evidence of uniform differential item function. The gap in odds of response between the first item (food‐related worry) and the third item (difficulty acquiring balanced meals) was larger for SNAP households than for non‐SNAP households. Similar differences were observed for other survey items. We consider whether SNAP policy or program changes could increase beneficial impacts differentially for particular food‐related hardships.