| Household food insecurity has been associated with poor physical health and behavioral and psychological problems in children. This study examined differences in parent/caregiver-perceived child health and parent/caregiver-reported behavioral and psychological problems by food security status of elementary school children (Kindergarten through 6th grade) living in rural, Appalachian Mississippi. This study used a cross-sectional survey of elementary school parents/caregivers recruited at three elementary schools in an economically-distressed Appalachian MS county. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (versions 23, 2015) to assess for differences in HLTH (t-test), BEHAV (Chi Square), and PSYCH (Chi Square) by household food security status. The relationship of HFSS to HLTH, BEHAV, and PSYCH (Kendall's taub ) was also assessed. Parent/caregiver participants (n=467/1144, 41% response rate) were 34+/-8 years. Tables 6 and 7 describe participant characteristics. Participants were predominately female (n=425/461, 92%), White (n=264/465, 56.8%), married (n= 243/453, 53.6%) and educated with some college or higher (n=256/451, 55.5%). Regarding food security status, 72.6% of participants were food secure, and 17.4% of participants were food insecure. Parent/caregiver- perceived child health was significantly higher in those living in food secure (4.1 +/- 0.9), compared to food insecure households (3.8 +/- 0.9) (p=.011). Those living in fully food secure households had significantly higher perceived general health (4.1 +/- 0.9), compared to those living in not fully food secure households (3.9 +/- 0.8) (p=.003). As food security worsened, health worsened (r= -.096, p=.042). A greater proportion of children living in food insecure households, compared to food secure households had parent/caretaker reported behavioral problems (p=.009). A greater proportion of children living in not fully food secure, compared to fully food secure households had parent/caretaker reported behavioral problems (p=.012). There were no differences between psychological problems and food secure, compared to food insecure households (p=.676). No significant differences were observed between parent/guardian reported psychological problems and those living in fully food secure, compared to not fully food secure households (p= .551). Household food security status was significantly correlated with behavioral problems (tau b = -0.126, p=.004), but not psychological problems (tau b = -0.032, p=.472). Exploring nutrition interventions in schools and communities that help to alleviate household food insecurity is warranted. |
