Household adversity and food security: The case of youth in public housing neighborhoods

Abstract

This paper sets out to explore factors that may be associated with food hardship among young people who reside in public housing (N = 124). The study is guided by Family Stress Theory and uses data from a cross-sectional study of African–American adolescents living in a public housing neighborhood located in West Baltimore. Results suggest that food security (defined as availability, accessibility, and adequacy) was negatively related to mother’s incarceration, large households, household experiencing material hardships, and interpersonal conflict as well as violence. It was also linked to community disorganization. Program and policy implications are suggested.