A new study published in the Journal of Advances in Nutrition looked at a systemic review of social vulnerability and child food insecurity in developed countries.
“Our study focuses on identifying social vulnerability factors that may be associated with childhood food insecurity,” study author Liuwork Mitiku Dana told us. “Our aim was to understand the complex drivers of food insecurity in children living in wealthy industrialized nations like Australia and the US.”
It is well known that household income is associated with household food insecurity, but there is less known about the impact on children. The researchers were interested in finding other factors that make children socially vulnerable that could be modified to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing food insecurity. They also thought that these factors might show them where additional support could be offered to families to help avoid childhood food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is an adverse childhood experience that can have lifelong consequences, and, in many households, ultimately leads to an intergenerational cycle of food insecurity,” Mitiku Dana told us. “As food insecurity in wealthy countries is increasing but generally hidden, the impact on children is of growing concern. There is an urgent need to understand its drivers and how to avert the impact on this vulnerable population group.”
The researchers systematically reviewed studies on social vulnerability and childhood food insecurity from around the world. They found over 5700 studies conducted in wealthy countries that explored social vulnerability factors associated with child food insecurity. They reviewed 49 studies involving 183,829 children from 62,625 households. This enabled them to explore different country contexts, and factors associated with social vulnerability and food insecurity. As they were interested in policy responses, they categorized factors at the household, community and societal levels.
“Although low income and poverty remain primary drivers, our study found that there is an array of other key social vulnerabilities that play a crucial role in determining a child’s risk of experiencing food insecurity,” Mitiku Dana told us. “These include parental mental health, housing stability, household structure, social cohesion, and ethnicity and racism.”
The researchers also found that social vulnerability was associated with the severity of child food insecurity. Prolonged exposure to these factors may be linked with chronic food insecurity. Both the intensity and duration of food insecurity are detrimental to children’s health and well-being. Social vulnerability itself can subject children to social discrimination and isolation, which, in turn, can aggravate disadvantages.
“We were surprised by the lack of research into this area in industrialized countries,” Mitiku Dana told us. “About 80% of reviewed studies were carried out in America and Canada, with little known in other wealthy countries.”
The significant impact of parental mental health issues on child food insecurity was an interesting, yet understandable outcome, explained Mitiku Dana. Also, children experiencing food insecurity, which can itself be a traumatic experience, may exacerbate mental health issues in children.
“Our findings should help focus policy responses to prevent childhood food insecurity,” Mitiku Dana told us. “They confirm the need to ensure families are able to secure liveable wages and adequate welfare payments. Special attention should be paid to socially vulnerable households with children, to tackle the structural issues that place families at risk. It is also crucial for countries to assess food insecurity by using instruments that accurately reflect children’s experiences.”
Mitiku Dana believes mental health services and support should be key policy considerations for households with children who are known to be experiencing food insecurity.
“It’s important to note that future research investigates the impact of child food insecurity at various developmental stages and trends in social vulnerability effects on childhood food insecurity,” Mitiku Dana told us.
The main response to food insecurity in most wealthy countries is food assistance programs but this strategy does little and is at best a temporary solution without addressing the root causes of the issue, explained Mitiku Dana. The social vulnerability factors reported in the current study highlight the fact that much more than food is needed to address food insecurity and government-led coordinated social vulnerability responsive interventions are required.