Rose, D., and Oliveira, V. (1997). Nutrient intakes of individuals from food-insufficient households in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 87(12), 1956–61. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.87.12.1956
Sample:
Participants — Three groups (preschool children 1 to 5 years old, adult women 19 to 50 years of age, and elderly individuals 65 years of age and older) from the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals.
Race/Ethnicity — 69% Non-Hispanic White, 16% Non-Hispanic Black, 10% Hispanic, 5%Other
Summary:
This study estimated the extent to which individuals from food-insufficient households were likely to have low intakes of energy and 14 other nutrients. The diets of preschoolers, adult women, and the elderly were analyzed with 24-hour recall data from the 1989 through 1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association of self-reported household food insufficiency with nutrient intakes below 50% of the recommended daily allowance. For adult women, food insufficiency was significantly associated with low intakes of eight nutrients, including energy, magnesium, and vitamins A, E, C, and B6. Elderly individuals in the food-insufficient group were also more likely to have low intakes of eight nutrients, including protein, calcium, and vitamins A and B6. Household food insufficiency was not significantly associated with low intakes among preschoolers. The results validate the use of self-reported hunger measures in nutritional surveillance and highlight nutrients of concern for food assistance and nutrition education efforts targeted at individuals from food-insufficient households.
Tarasuk, V. S., & Beaton, G. H. (1999). Women's dietary intakes in the context of household food insecurity. The Journal of Nutrition, 129(3),672–79. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/129.3.672
Sample:
Participants — 153 women in families receiving emergency food assistance in Toronto, Canada
Race/Ethnicity — 46% white, 27% Black, 11% Latin American, 10% Asian, 3% aboriginal Canadians, and 2% undefined
Summary:
A study of food insecurity and nutritional adequacy was conducted with a sample of 153 women in families receiving emergency food assistance in Toronto, Canada. Contemporaneous data on dietary intake and household food security over the past 30 d were available for 145 of the women. Analyses of these data revealed that women who reported hunger in their households during the past 30 d also reported systematically lower intakes of energy and a number of nutrients. The effect of household-level hunger on intake persisted even when other economic, socio-cultural, and behavioral influence on reported dietary intake were considered. Estimated prevalences of inadequacy in excess of 15% were noted for Vitamin A, folate, iron, and magnesium in this sample, suggesting that the low levels of intake associated with severe household food insecurity are in a range that could put women at risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Frongillo, E. A. (1999). Validation of measures of food insecurity and hunger. The Journal of Nutrition, 129(2), 506–509. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/129.2.506S
Sample:
Participants — Not Specified
Race/Ethnicity — Not Specified
Summary:
This paper presents the evidence available that questionnaire-based measures, in particular the national food security measure, provide valid measurement of food insecurity and hunger for population and individual uses. The paper discusses basic ideas about measurement and criteria for establishing validity of measures and then uses these criteria to structure an examination of the research results available to establish the validity of food security measures. The results show that the construction of the national food security measure is well grounded in our understanding of food insecurity and hunger, its performance is consistent with that understanding, it is precise within usual performance standards, dependable, accurate at both group and individual levels within reasonable performance standards, and its accuracy is attributable to the well-grounded understanding. These results provide strong evidence that the Food Security Supplement provides valid measurement of food insecurity and hunger for population and individual uses.
Derrickson, J. P., Fisher A. G., & Anderson, J. E. (2000). The core US Food Security Survey Module scale measure is valid and reliable when used with Asians and Pacific Islanders. The Journal of Nutrition, 130(11), 2666–2674. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.11.2666
Sample:
Participants — three samples were surveyed (n 5 1664): 1) a convenience sample of 144 food pantry recipients thought likely to be hungry; 2) a retest sample that included 61of the initial 77 food pantry respondents who completed the CFSM a second time; and 3)a statewide
Race/Ethnicity — 54.6% Asian/Pacific Islander, 37.6% Caucasian
Summary:
This study examined whether the Core Food Security Measure (CFSM) is a reliable and valid food security measure for use in Hawaii, where at least 50% of the population is of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. We completed an independent assessment of the robustness of the internal scale construct validity of the CSFM scale measure and hierarchical order of items using the same Rasch methods used previously to develop the CSFM. From a sample of 1664 respondents, data from 362 were used in the Rasch analysis. Item goodness-of-fi statistics indicated that responses to the "adults cut the size or skip meals" item and its follow-up item were redundant. Responses to the "(un)able to eat balanced meals" item were erratic. Findings pertaining to goodness-of-fi of the respondents indicated an acceptable rate of misfit (4.7%). Rate of misfit did not vary with family status or with any ethnic group except the Samoans. Overall, the CFSM scale measure fit as well with the Hawaii data as it did with national data, although identified limitations may affect food security monitoring and research.
Kaiser L. L., Melgar-Quionez, H. R., Lamp, C. L., Johns, M. C., Sutherlin, J. M., & Harwood, J. O. (2002). Food security and nutritional outcomes of preschool-age Mexican–American children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102(7), 924–929. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(02)90210-5
Sample:
Participants — 211 low-income Mexican-American families with children of preschool age (3 to 6 years)
Race/Ethnicity — 100% Hispanic
Summary:
This study examined the relationship of food insecurity to nutrition of Mexican-American preschoolers. Limited education, lack of English proficiency, and low income were negatively correlated with food security. After controlling for acculturation, children in severely food-insecure households were less likely to meet Food Guide Pyramid guidelines than other children. Although Weight for Height scores and percent overweight tended to peak among children from household level food insecure families, no significant differences were found in weight or height status of children by level of food insecurity.
Kaiser, L. L., & Melgar-Quinonez, H. (2003). Food insecurity and food supplies in Latino households with young children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 35(3), 148–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1499-4046(06)60199-1
Sample:
Participants — 274 low-income Latino families with preschool children from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Head Start, and other community-based organizations.
Race/Ethnicity — 100% Latino
Summary:
This study examined the relationship between food insecurity and food supplies in Latino households. Controlling for maternal education, food insecurity over the past 3 months was associated with lower household food supplies: dairy, r = , P < .01; fruit, r = \.36, P < .001; grains, r = \.27, P < .0001; meats, r = \.22, P < .001; snack foods, r = \.23, P < .001; and vegetables, r = \.29, P < .001. In Latino households, greater food insecurity is associated with a lower variety of most foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. Future research in Latino households should explore the effects of seasonal food insecurity and household food shortages on food intake of individual household members, especially young children.
Opsomer, J. D., Jensen, H. H., & Pan, S. (2003). An evaluation of the US Department of Agriculture food security measure with generalized linear mixed models. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(2), 421–427. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.2.421
Sample:
Participants — Not Specified
Race/Ethnicity — Not Specified
Summary:
This study evaluated the measurement of food insecurity and the effect of household variables on measured food insecurity. The effects of demographic and survey-specific variables on the food insecurity/hunger scale were evaluated using a generalized linear model with mixed effects. Data came from the 1995,1997 and 1999 Food Security Module of the Current Population Survey. The results generally validated the model currently used by the USDA. In addition, our approach made it possible to consider the effect of demographics and several survey design variables on food security among measurably food-insecure house-holds, as well as interactions between these factors and the food security questions. The analysis of the expanded model with the 1995 data found results similar to those reported based on the Rasch model used by the USDA. Even though the sample size was reduced and a number of screening and questionnaire changes were introduced in 1997 and 1999, the results for those years appear mostly unchanged and confirm the robustness of the scale in measuring food insecurity. There is some evidence that interpretation of questions may vary among different demographic groups.
Wilde, P. E. (2004). Differential response patterns affect food-security prevalence estimates for households with and without children. The Journal of Nutrition, 134(8), 1910–1915. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.1910
Sample:
Participants — 35,555 households participating in the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey
Race/Ethnicity — Not Specified
Summary:
To produce national prevalence estimates for "food insecurity" and "food insecurity with hunger," the USDA uses a battery of 18 survey items about symptoms of food-related hardship. Ten items refer to adults in the household, while 8 items refer to children in the household and hence are not asked of households without children. To equate food-security status in households with and without children, the USDA uses a statistical model from item response theory, known as the Rasch model. This model requires an assumption that adult-referenced items have the same severity calibrations for all households, including households with and without children. However, empirical estimates from the 2000 Current Population Survey showed significantly different severity calibrations for households with and without children. These differences have implications for observable response patterns. Holding constant the number of affirmative responses to adult-referenced items, households with children were more likely to respond that they "worried food would run out," and households without children were more likely to be unable to afford "balanced meals." In light of such differences, the Rasch model cannot be used to equate the food-security status of households with and without children. One potential solution would be to estimate household food security by using the same battery of adult-referenced survey items for all households.
