ABSTRACT
Using annual data from the 2015–16 Poverty Tracker study, this study examined the roles of distance to grocery stores, neighborhood disadvantage, and social cohesion in explaining food insecurity among older adults in New York City. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to assess these relationships. Results show that greater distance to grocery stores (0.26–0.75 miles vs. 0.00–0.25 miles) and living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods increased the odds of food insecurity. Community social cohesion was a marginally significant protective factor against food insecurity. Findings provide empirical evidence for policy and social program interventions to address food insecurity among older adults.
Acknowledgement
The author is grateful to the Center on Poverty & Social Policy at the Columbia School of Social Work for making the data available. The opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be attributed to the Center on Poverty & Social Policy. The author is also grateful for all the support received from Professors Irwin Garfinkel, Qin Gao, and Ada C. Mui at Columbia School of Social Work.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).