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Remembering Childhood Food Insecurity: Measurement Challenges and Influences on Current Practices
Author(s) -
Dickin Katherine,
Rosa Tracey,
Ortolano Stephanie
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.261.5
Subject(s) - food insecurity , childhood obesity , psychology , food security , childhood memory , environmental health , recall , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , obesity , geography , overweight , cognition , psychiatry , agriculture , archaeology , semantic memory , cognitive psychology
Child feeding practices can influence risk of childhood obesity, but little is known about antecedents of these practices. To investigate parents' past experiences with food insecurity in childhood as a potential barrier to adopting responsive child feeding practices, we conducted in‐depth interviews with 26 low‐income parents in 4 NY counties and assessed how well survey items captured the experiences. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed qualitatively for emergent themes. Respondents' memories were emotionally charged and portrayed varying levels and definitions of childhood food insecurity. “Going to bed hungry” was seen as traumatic by all but was rarely reported; many saw less severe food insecurity as just part of life. When reporting reduced meal size or limited food access due to financial problems, most respondents were protective of their parents, emphasizing that they “always made sure we ate something.” Their parents used strategies to shield children from food insecurity, e.g. skipping meals, using food stamps, or eating with relatives. Survey responses were imprecise when food access varied over time, unconventional food sources were the norm, or respondents experienced inadequate meals but were unsure of the causes. Respondents said limited food access in childhood led to current emotional eating and child feeding practices aimed at ensuring that their children “never have to go without.” These links, and the strong emotions elicited by memories, suggest that previous food insecurity is very salient for nutrition education promoting healthful practices. Yet, wide variation in recall, definition of “having enough” and willingness to answer items seen as blaming parents pose challenges to creating valid survey measures of previous food insecurity. Funded by USDA.