Understanding the Psychological Distress of Food Insecurity: A Qualitative Study of Children's Experiences and Related Coping Strategies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Food insecurity, a condition of inadequate household food availability, affects 15.7% of US households with children. Food insecurity is generally believed to affect the quantity and quality of food consumed. However, an understudied but important aspect of the experience of food insecurity is psychological distress.

Objective

To critically explore the psychological distress associated with children's food insecurity using children's own reports of their experiences.

Design

In-depth qualitative interviews conducted with children to better understand the psychological distress associated with food insecurity.

Participants/setting

Sixty children (aged 7 to 14 years) were recruited from the San Francisco Bay Area. Children were eligible in the case that

SUBMITTER: Leung CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7047973 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature