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Maternal and Child Health Journal
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal 1/2016

Open Access 01-01-2016

“Do You Wanna Breathe or Eat?”: Parent Perspectives on Child Health Consequences of Food Insecurity, Trade-Offs, and Toxic Stress

Authors: Molly Knowles, Jenny Rabinowich, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Diana Becker Cutts, Mariana Chilton

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Objectives

This study among 51 parents of young children under age four investigated how parents that report marginal, low and very low food security characterize how trade-offs associated with food insecurity affect parents’ mental health and child well-being.

Methods

We carried out 51 semi-structured audio-recorded interviews after participants responded to a survey regarding food security status and maternal depressive symptoms. Each interview was transcribed. Through a content analysis, we coded “meaning units” in each manuscript and organized them by themes in ATLAS.ti. Among participants reporting both food insecurity and depressive symptoms, we identified three primary areas of concern: trade-offs, mental health, and child well-being.

Results

Parents described how trade-offs associated with food insecurity have a profound relationship with their mental health and home environment that strongly affects young children. Descriptions of hardships include anxiety and depression related to overdue bills and shut-off notices, strains with housing costs, and safety. Parents described how their own frustration, anxiety, and depression related to economic hardship have a negative impact on their children’s physical health, and their social and emotional development.

Conclusions

Parents in food insecure households recognize that trade-offs between food and other basic necessities are associated with their personal stress and poor mental health that, in turn, affects their children’s health and development. Partnerships between healthcare providers, policymakers, and parents are essential to successfully address and prevent the poor child health outcomes of toxic stress associated with food insecurity and poverty.
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Metadata
Title
“Do You Wanna Breathe or Eat?”: Parent Perspectives on Child Health Consequences of Food Insecurity, Trade-Offs, and Toxic Stress
Authors
Molly Knowles
Jenny Rabinowich
Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba
Diana Becker Cutts
Mariana Chilton
Publication date
01-01-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1797-8

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