Developing New Scales of Personal Food Security

Abstract

Background

Food insecurity is standardly measured at the household level or for groups of household members. However, food hardships may differ for individuals within households. Summary measures of people’s individual experiences of food insecurity are needed.

Objective

This study aims to develop and analyze psychometrically sound multi-item scales of people’s individual experiences of food insecurity. It further aims to examine whether and how the distributions of personal food insecurity differ across age groups, from household food insecurity, and with people’s observed characteristics.

Design

The study analyzes questionnaire data on personal food security outcomes, household food security outcomes, and other characteristics.

Participants and setting

The 29,040 participants in the study responded to the 2005-2006 through 2009-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States.

Main outcomes

The main outcomes are five-item scales of personal food insecurity for children younger than age 12 years, young adolescents aged 12 to 15 years, and people aged 16 years and older.

Statistical analysis performed

The study develops the personal food insecurity scales through factor analyses and polytomous Item Response Theory models and analyzes characteristics that are related to the scale outcomes through multivariate regressions.

Results

The article develops personal food insecurity scales that are related to but distinct from the standard household scales, with different scales being needed to capture the experiences of its three age groups. Children younger than age 12 years have much lower risks of personal food insecurity than other age groups, whereas young adolescents have higher risks than other groups. Three percent of children had an indication of personal food insecurity, whereas 10% of adolescents and 7% of adults had indications. Among adults, women and people between ages 31 and 65 years have higher risks of personal food insecurity than men and people of other ages, but they have similar risks for household food insecurity.

Conclusions

Personal food insecurity is a distinct component of well-being that can be summarized through scale measures. Evidence that characteristics, such as sex and age, are related to personal food insecurity but not household food insecurity indicates that food experiences can differ within households and that some people may be systematically disadvantaged.