Hunger and childhood adversity: Food insecurity among low-income mothers and their children

Background/significance: Thirty five percent of female-headed households with children experienced food insecurity in 2010. Children from low-income families experience abuse and neglect at higher rates than their middle- and high-income peers, and past research suggests that these exposures in childhood are related to negative adult health outcomes such as depression, substance abuse and poor job performance. Using a life course approach to examine women's experiences with violence and neglect in childhood and their current ability to provide for their children, this presentation describes the underexplored relationship between violence and hunger. Objective: To describe results from original research exploring women's experiences with violence and hunger and implications for policy and practice. Methods: Results are from mixed-methods interviews conducted in 2011 with 29 low-income mothers of young children in Philadelphia. Quantitative measures included the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Scale and the US Household Food Security Survey. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory theme analysis. Results: 24 of 29 participants reported 4 or more ACEs. A significant, graded relationship was seen between number of ACEs reported and severity of food insecurity (Spearman's rho = .515, p < .005). Participants drew timelines of their experiences with violence and hunger and described the impact of those experiences on their current ability to provide for their children. Discussion/conclusion: Further investigations into connections between violence and hunger are needed. By understanding the interplay between violence and hunger, researchers and advocates can work to create interventions on community and policy levels that address both.