Table 1.
Sociodemographic and basic need characteristics of households with children accessing food pantries, with and without very low child food security
| Characteristic | All participants w/ children n = 186 | Weighted N = 62,975 % or mean (SD) | No very low food security among children % or mean (SD) | Very low food security among children % or mean (SD) | Statistical test value F (df) or t | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEMOGRAPHICS | ||||||
| Age, mean (SD) | 41.1 (11.5) | 39.8 (11.1) | 39.8 (11.1) | 39.9 (11.3) | t =−.06 | 0.954 |
| Adults in household, mean (SD) | 2.4 (1.2) | 2.4 (1.27) | 2.5 (1.3) | 2.2 (1.0) | t =−1.39 | 0.175 |
| Children in household, mean (SD) | 2.5 (1.4) | 2.5 (1.4) | 2.5 (1.5) | 2.2 (1.01) | t =−1.58 | 0.123 |
| Race, respondent | ||||||
| White, NH | 88 | 43.46 | 42.26 | 47.73 | F (2.68, 83.09) = 0.94 | 0.416 |
| Black or African American, NH | 27 | 20.58 | 21.1 | 18.72 | ||
| American Indian or Alaskan Native, NH | 35 | 11.37 | 12.87 | 6.037 | ||
| Other, NH | 13 | 10.21 | 8.22 | 17.27 | ||
| Hispanic | 19 | 14.38 | 15.55 | 10.24 | ||
| Marital status, respondent | ||||||
| Married | 73 | 32.53 | 36.17 | 19.63 | F (1, 31) = 2.24 | 0.145 |
| Unmarried | 111 | 67.47 | 63.83 | 80.37 | ||
| Female single headed-household (% yes) | 28 | 19.5 | 22.21 | 10.47 | F (1, 31) = 1.53 | 0.225 |
| Locale | ||||||
| Urban | 111 | 76.8 | 72.77 | 87.9 | F (1, 31) = 5.08 | 0.031 |
| Rural | 77 | 23.2 | 27.23 | 12.1 | ||
| Education, respondent | ||||||
| Less than high school | 46 | 20.32 | 20.6 | 19.42 | F (2.61, 80.90) = 0.55 | 0.628 |
| High school diploma/GED | 86 | 49.41 | 46.65 | 58.33 | ||
| Some college/technical school | 44 | 23.84 | 25.2 | 19.45 | ||
| College degree or more | 10 | 6.42 | 7.547 | 2.804 | ||
| Income | ||||||
| Income below $15,000 | 115 | 63.08 | 55.13 | 86.98 | F (1.57, 48.59) = 8.58 | .002 |
| BASIC NEEDS | ||||||
| Insurance, respondent (% no)* | 64 | 33.67 | 24.68 | 62.86 | F (1, 31) = 6.58 | <0.001 |
| Unpaid medical bills (% yes) * | 112 | 59.91 | 58.74 | 63.65 | F (1, 31) = 0.27 | 0.610 |
| Unstable housing (% yes) * | 9 | 4.87 | 2.40 | 13.06 | F (1, 31) = 3.96 | <0.001 |
| Unemployed, respondent (% yes) * | 70 | 36.13 | 35.47 | 38.55 | F (1, 31) = 0.08 | 0.773 |
| Unable to heat or cool home* | 66 | 37.19 | 28.29 | 64.67 | F (1, 31) = 11.65 | 0.002 |
| Could not pay mortgage or rent on time* | 93 | 53.95 | 46.4 | 77.88 | F (1, 31) = 13.51 | 0.001 |
| Could not pay electricity, gas, phone bills on time* | 116 | 58.89 | 54.18 | 74.05 | F (1, 31) = 5.04 | 0.032 |
| FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM USE | ||||||
| SNAP (% yes) | 106 | 60.03 | 64.45 | 45.65 | F (1, 31) = 2.15 | 0.152 |
| WIC (% yes) | 49 | 27.75 | 35.77 | 1.55 | F (1, 31) = 49.04 | <0.001 |
| NSLP (% yes) | 29 | 68.49 | 66.39 | 74.94 | F (1, 7) = 0.10 | 0.759 |
| Backpack (% yes) | 6 | 8.87 | 19.39 | 13.25 | F (1, 31) = 0.69 | 0.412 |
| Food pantry reliance score (0–9 scale), mean (SD) | 4.7 (2.1) | 5.0 (2.09) | 4.7 (1.99) | 6.1 (2.04) | t = 4.08 | <0.001 |
*
X2 test compares listed group to opposing group
Abbreviations: NH: Non-Hispanic; GED: General Education Diploma; SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; NSLP: National School Lunch Program