Youth Are Less Likely to be Food Insecure than Adults in the Same Household

Abstract

National statistics indicate that children and youth are less likely to be food insecure than adults in the same household. However, these statistics are based on adult proxy reports of children's food security, and the accuracy of those reports has not been verified. This study compares self-reported personal food insecurity of youth (ages 12–17) and adults in the same or similar households using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Youth are found to be considerably less likely to be food insecure than adults in the same household, and the youth–adult difference is greater when food insecurity is assessed at a severe level. The findings are consistent with qualitative research findings that parents in food insecure households attempt to shield their children and youth from the effects of the household's food insecurity.

Keywords:

• food security
• food insecurity
• child food insecurity
• food security measurement
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Notes

This article not subject to US copyright law.

The author thanks the National Center for Health Statistics for creating the NHANES household roster data file and making it available through the secure data sharing facility jointly supported by the NCHS/CDC/DHHS and ERS/USDA.

The views expressed are those of the author and may not be attributed to the Economic Research Service or the US Department of Agriculture.