Table 1.
Demographic and household characteristics of low-income Iowa women by ethnicity and acculturation (n = 158).
| Characteristic | Total | Hispanic-Dominant 25% (39) | Bicultural-English-Dominant 33% (53) | Non-Hispanic White 42% (66) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mean ± standard deviation (SD) | ||||
| Age in years ** | 36.4 ± 12.7 | 38.9 ± 11.5 a | 31.2 ± 12.4 b | 39.0 ± 12.4 a |
| Total household size *** | 3.8 ± 1.8 | 4.8 ± 1.4 a | 3.6 ± 1.8 b | 3.2 ± 1.6 b |
| Children under age 18 ** | 1.4 ± 1.4 | 2.0 ± 1.4 a | 1.3 ± 1.3 b | 1.2 ± 1.3 b |
| Number of adults * | 2.3 ± 1.0 | 2.7 ± 1.0 a | 2.3 ± 1.0 a | 2.1 ± 0.9 b |
| Monthly food expense $ ** | 430 ± 267 | 542 ± 290 a | 431 ± 253 b | 367 ± 247 b |
| % | ||||
| Years of Education *** | ||||
| 6th grade or less | 7 | 28.2 a | 0 b | 0 b |
| 7–11th grade—Junior High | 14.6 | 46.2 a | 0 b | 7.6 c |
| 12th grade or certificate | 21.5 | 10.3 a | 24.5 a | 25.8 a |
| Some college or tech school | 36.1 | 10.3 a | 39.6 b | 48.5 b |
| Bachelor’s degree or more | 20.9 | 5.1 a | 35.8 b | 18.2 a |
| Marital Status *** | ||||
| Single | 24.7 | 2.6 a | 39.6 b | 25.8 b |
| Married | 48.1 | 79.5 a | 23.7 b | 35.5 b |
| Cohabitating | 12.7 | 15.4 a | 11.4 a | 12.1 a |
| Divorced/Widowed/Separated | 14.6 | 2.6 a | 15.1 b | 21.2 b |
| Food Security Status 1,** | ||||
| High | 60.9 | 72.7 a | 68.1 a | 48.3 b |
| Low | 23.9 | 24.2 a | 25.5 a | 22.4 a |
| Very low | 15.2 | 3.0 a | 6.4 a | 29.3 b |
| Federal Program Usage | ||||
| Food assistance (SNAP) ** | 19.6 | 10.3 a | 9.4 a | 33.3 b |
| Child nutrition programs *** | 19 | 43.6 a | 11.3 b | 10.6 b |
| WIC † | 17.7 | 25.6 | 13.2 | 16.7 |
| Head Start | 5.1 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 3 |
| Temporary Aid for Needy Families | 8.2 | 7.7 | 3.8 | 12.1 |
1n = 138; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; Values with the same superscript letters are not significantly different; † Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children.