More than one-quarter of all Hispanic households in the U.S. are food insecure. Hispanic families in the U.S. comprise 30 percent of households with food insecurity at the child level. This article analyzes inter-rater agreement of food security among a sample of Mexican-origin children ages 6 to 11 and their mothers living in Texas border colonias. Researchers found differences in food insecurity reporting between mothers and children. The prevalence of mother-reported household food insecurity (80%) surpassed children’s reports of food insecurity (64%), indicating only slight inter-rater agreement. The prevalence of mother-reported child food insecurity (56%) was less than the prevalence of child food insecurity as reported by the children themselves (64%). Authors conclude that the poor agreement between mothers and children may be attributable to parental buffering, social desirability in responses, and or the age of the children included in the study.
Age Groups: Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5)
Focus Area: Food Access
Keywords: Food insecurity, Home, Rural, Spanish language
Resource Type: Journal Article
Race/Ethnicity: Latino(a) or Hispanic
State: Texas
Related Research
January 2013
Convenience Stores are the Key Food Environment Influence on Nutrients Available from Household Food Supplies in Texas Border Colonias
This paper examines spatial access to retail food stores, including traditional (supercenters, supermarkets, grocery stores), convenience (convenience stores and food marts), and non-traditional (dollar stores, discount stores) stores, as well as food shopping habits, and nutrients available in household food supplies among 50 Mexican-origin families residing in Texas border colonias. Researchers found significantly greater access MoreSeptember 2012
Convenience Stores and the Marketing of Foods and Beverages through Product Assortment
Product assortment–the presence and variety of foods and beverages–is a key in-store marketing strategy to influence consumer choice. This paper examines product assortment within conveniences stores in rural Texas-border colonias. Researchers found that convenience stores in this area provide a greater assortment of less healthy foods and beverages compared with healthier foods and beverages. Convenience MoreFebruary 2012
Children’s Very Low Food Security is Associated with Increased Dietary Intakes in Energy, Fat, and Added Sugar among Mexican-Origin Children (6-11 y) in Texas Border Colonias
This article assess the relationship between children’s experience of food insecurity and nutrient intake from food and beverages among Mexican-origin children (ages 6-11 years) who resided in Texas border colonias. Child food security measures and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected in Spanish by trained promotora-researchers. Researchers found that 64 percent of children reported low MoreNovember 2009