Exploring the role of social capital in managing food insecurity among older women in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Food insecurity, which affects 37 million individuals in the United States (U.S.) and disproportionately burdens women, minorities and older adults, is a well-established determinant of poor health. Previous studies suggest social capital, defined as the material and social benefits arising from relationships among individuals within and between groups, may be protective against food insecurity. Drawing on this evidence, calls have been made for interventions and policies to promote social capital to address food insecurity. However, limited research has explored in-depth how social capital shapes the lived experience of food insecurity in the U.S. We explored how older women from three settings in the U.S. used forms of social capital to navigate their food environments. Between November

SUBMITTER: Leddy AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7757784 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature