Difficulty in the Food Environment and the Experience of Food Insecurity among Refugees Resettled in the United States

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity in 281 refugees resettled in the United States. Participants were recruited through a resettlement center and word of mouth. In addition to measures of socioeconomic status, education, time in the U.S., and food insecurity, we also measured individual difficulty in navigating the food environment using a food difficulty scale. Only 23% of the sample did not endorse any of the food insecurity items. Nearly half of the sample also noted difficulty in navigating the food environment. Food insecurity scores above the median were predicted by both income and non-income variables. In a multivariable logistic model, income and having more than one year of education were associated with lower food insecurity (p < .05), while “difficulty in the food environment” was associated with high food insecurity (p < .01). Results suggest that income is an important constraint but that non-income variables may also be important determinants of food insecurity.

Keywords:

• food security
• immigrant
• wellbeing
• acculturation
• poverty

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the intellectual contributions and support of Daniel Sellen. The authors also thank all of the study respondents and all those who helped with this work. Funding for this study comes from NSF Cultural Anthropology Award #0801065.

Notes

Djona Nahayo is no longer affiliated with the School of Public Health, Saint Louis University. She was affiliated with the University during the writing of the article. She resides in St. Louis, Missouri.