Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Older People in Canada

Background: Food insecurity research has been mainly examined among young people. The root causes of food insecurity are closely linked to poverty, and social policies and income supplements, including public and private pensions, have been shown to sharply curb food insecurity into later life. However, social, economic, and political trends that are closely connected to social and health inequalities threaten to undermine the conditions that have limited food insecurity among older people until now. Exploring the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among older people across Canada has important implications for domestic policies concerning health, healthcare, and social welfare. Methods: Data come from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2012 Annual Component (n = 14,890). Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear model approach were used to determine prevalence and estimate the associations between food insecurity—as measured by the Household Food Security Survey Module—and social, demographic, geographic, and economic factors. Results: Approximately 2.4% of older Canadians are estimated to be moderately or severely food insecure. Income was by far the strongest predictor of food insecurity (total household income <$20,000 compared to >$60,000, OR: 46.146, 95% CI: 12.523–170.041, p < 0.001). Younger older people, and those with a non-white racial background also had significantly greater odds of food insecurity (ages 75+ compared to 65–74, OR: 0.322, 95% CI: 0.212–0.419, p < 0.001; and OR: 2.429, 95% CI: 1.438–4.102, p < 0.001, respectively). Sex, home ownership, marital status, and living arrangement were all found to confound the relationship between household income and food insecurity. Prevalence of food insecurity varied between provinces and territories, and odds of food insecurity were approximately five times greater for older people living in northern Canada as compared to central Canada (OR: 5.189, 95% CI: 2.329–11.562, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Disaggregating overall prevalence of food insecurity among older people demonstrates how disparities exist among sub-groups of older people. The seemingly negligible existence of food insecurity among older people has obscured the importance, practicality, and timeliness of including this age group in research on food insecurity. The current research underscores the critical importance of an income floor in preventing food insecurity among older people, and contributes a Canadian profile of the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among older people to the broader international literature.

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Prevalence and sociodemographic risk factors related to household food security in Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980008004345 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1150-1156 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Noreen D Willows ◽

Paul Veugelers ◽

Kim Raine ◽

Stefan Kuhle

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Aboriginal Peoples ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food ◽

Sociodemographic Risk

AbstractObjectiveCanada’s Aboriginal population is vulnerable to food insecurity and increasingly lives off-reserve. The Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2 Nutrition, was used to compare the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of food insecurity between non-Aboriginal and off-reserve Aboriginal households.DesignFood insecurity status was based on Health Canada’s revised interpretation of responses to the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Logistic regression was used to assess if Aboriginal households were at higher risk for food insecurity than non-Aboriginal households, adjusting for household sociodemographic factors.SettingCanada.SubjectsHouseholds (n35,107), 1528 Aboriginal and 33 579 non-Aboriginal.ResultsThirty-three per cent of Aboriginal households were food insecure as compared with 9 % of non-Aboriginal households (univariate OR 5·2, 95 % CI 4·2, 6·3). Whereas 14 % of Aboriginal households had severe food insecurity, 3 % of non-Aboriginal households did. The prevalence of sociodemographic risk factors for household food insecurity was higher for Aboriginal households. Aboriginal households were more likely to have three or more children (14 %v. 5 %), be lone-parent households (2 1 %v. 5 %), not have home ownership (52 %v. 31 %), have educational attainment of secondary school or less (43 %v. 26 %), have income from sources other than wages or salaries (38 %v. 29 %), and be in the lowest income adequacy category (33 %v. 12 %). Adjusted for these sociodemographic factors, Aboriginal households retained a higher risk for food insecurity than non-Aboriginal households (OR 2·6, 95 % CI 2·1, 3·2).ConclusionsOff-reserve Aboriginal households in Canada merit special attention for income security and poverty alleviation initiatives.

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Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Predictors of Food Insecurity in Australia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092682 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2682 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katherine Kent ◽

Sandra Murray ◽

Beth Penrose ◽

Stuart Auckland ◽

Denis Visentin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Household Income ◽

Short Form ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

University Education ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Household Food ◽

Vulnerable Households

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic vulnerabilities and disrupted the Australian food supply, with potential implications for food insecurity. This study aims to describe the prevalence and socio-demographic associations of food insecurity in Tasmania, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey (deployed late May to early June 2020) incorporated the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form, and fifteen demographic and COVID-related income questions. Survey data (n = 1170) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. The prevalence of food insecurity was 26%. The adjusted odds of food insecurity were higher among respondents with a disability, from a rural area, and living with dependents. Increasing age, a university education, and income above $80,000/year were protective against food insecurity. Food insecurity more than doubled with a loss of household income above 25% (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.02; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.71; p = 0.022), and the odds further increased with loss of income above 75% (AOR: 7.14; 95% CI: 2.01, 24.83; p = 0.002). Our results suggest that the prevalence of food insecurity may have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among economically vulnerable households and people who lost income. Policies that support disadvantaged households and ensure adequate employment opportunities are important to support Australians throughout and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Socio-economic position and quality of life among older people in 10 European countries: results of the SHARE study

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x06005484 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 269-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

OLAF VON DEM KNESEBECK ◽

MORTEN WAHRENDORF ◽

MARTIN HYDE ◽

JOHANNES SIEGRIST

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older People ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Later Life ◽

European Countries ◽

Car Ownership ◽

Short Version ◽

Net Worth ◽

Economic Position

This study examines associations between quality of life and multiple indicators of socio-economic position among people aged 50 or more years in 10 European countries, and analyses whether the relative importance of the socio-economic measures vary by age. The data are from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2004. 15,080 cases were analysed. Quality of life was measured by a short version of the CASP-19 questionnaire, which represents quality of life as comprising four conceptual domains of individual needs that are particularly relevant in later life: control (C), autonomy (A), self-realisation (S) and pleasure (P). The short version has 12 items (three for each domain). Five indicators of socio-economic position were used: income, education, home ownership, net worth, and car ownership. A multiple logistic regression showed that quality of life was associated with socio-economic position, but that the associations varied by country. Relatively small socio-economic differences in quality of life were observed for Switzerland, but comparatively large differences in Germany. Education, income, net worth, and car ownership consistently related to quality of life, but the association of home ownership was less consistent. There was no indication that the socio-economic differences in quality of life diminished after retirement (i.e. from 65+ years). Conventional measures of socio-economic position (education and income), as well as alternative indicators (car ownership and household net worth), usefully identified the differential risks of poor quality of life among older people before and after the conventional retirement age.

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Australian attitudes to intergenerational equity: impacts of social and policy change

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x18000703 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (12) ◽

pp. 2671-2698 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hal Kendig ◽

Rafat Hussain ◽

Kate O'Loughlin ◽

Lisa Cannon

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Older People ◽

Policy Change ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Baby Boom ◽

Later Life ◽

Intergenerational Equity ◽

Life Chances ◽

Competing Demands ◽

Economic Constraints

AbstractAttitudes to ageing can predispose decision-making as governments, interest groups and electorates negotiate competing demands in the context of economic constraints and social change. This paper, based on national survey data, investigates change and stability in Australian attitudes to intergenerational equity from 2009–2010 to 2015–2017, alongside concurrent socio-economic and policy change as well as cohort succession. The emphasis is on the baby-boom cohort who are viewed as significant beneficiaries of social change relative to opportunities of younger and older cohorts. Views of older people as a needy group may be changing slightly as more enter later life with substantial wealth and resources. Our results show that there is little perception of intergenerational conflict with the exception of the Millennial cohort whose life chances are compromised by economic and expenditure constraint over the past decade. Overall, attitudes remain sympathetic to older people, especially among women and people rendered vulnerable by poor health, non-home-ownership and low socio-economic positions. The findings do not align with government portrayals of intergenerational inequalities notwithstanding many having negative views of the future and ongoing expenditure restraint strategies. At what appears to be a critical turning point in the life chances of successive cohorts, the findings indicate the interplay between attitudes and social and policy change, as well as implications for social equity and processes of attitudinal change.

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Life-Course Transitions to Precarious Housing in Older Age

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 596-596

Author(s):

Helen Barrie ◽

Debbie Faulkner ◽

Laurence Lester

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Life Course ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Later Life ◽

Older Age ◽

Middle Income ◽

Life Course Transitions ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Household Dynamics ◽

The Life Course

Abstract Home is central to health and wellbeing; yet the changing nature of work, household dynamics and especially housing markets, with scant policy attention and action around this, means low-middle income households are struggling in many countries. In Australia, while older people are considered to be at less risk because of higher levels of home ownership, there is a growing body of evidence about the living situations of older people who have not attained or retained home ownership over the life course and have limited wealth and savings moving into later life. This paper presents the findings of multivariate regression modelling using HILDA, a national longitudinal panel survey, to identify the profile(s) of older people at risk of homelessness in Australia. The data makes it clear a range of structural and individual factors across the life course are increasingly impacting on the ability to live a good life in older age.

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Burden of food insecurity in older adults from diverse global settings: policy recommendations

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.311 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

C Pirkle ◽

N Peltzer ◽

S Câmara ◽

J Gomes ◽

A Ylli

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Latin American ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Household Food Security ◽

International Mobility ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle Income

Abstract Food insecurity prevalence is highest in low and middle-income countries, yet there is a dearth of research on the burden in older adults in these settings. Food insecurity has long-term consequences for the health of older persons. We examined cross-sectional food security data from 1,482 participants in the 2016 wave of the longitudinal International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS) conducted in Canada, Albania, Colombia, and Brazil. These are community samples between 68 and 79 years. Food security was assessed with the Latin American and Caribbean Household Food Security Scale and recoded to yes/no. Covariates of interest included sex, site, income, living arrangement, and education. Descriptive statistics, with tests of statistical significance, were used. Responses to scale items varied from 10% of participants reporting worry about running out of food and being unable to eat healthy foods to 2% reporting not eating for a whole day or having to beg for food. Food insecurity in the sample was 17%. Few Canadian respondents (<5%) were food insecure, compared to 30% in Tirana, 28% in Manizales, and 18% in Natal. Better educated and income sufficient respondents were significantly more food secure than lesser educated, lower income ones. Respondents living with spouses were significantly less likely to be food insecure than those living alone or in other arrangements (e.g. with children). The exception was Tirana; 25% of those in other arrangements were food insecure compared to 32% living with a spouse and 44% alone. Food insecurity did not differ significantly by age or sex. Site, income, living arrangement, and education were all associated with food insecurity status. Study findings contribute to a significant gap in literature about food security in older adults. Because food insecurity in older adults leads to negative health outcomes, results suggest specific interventions to improve health and reduce burden on healthcare systems is needed for elderly. Key messages Food insecurity has severe health consequences for elderly and location, income, education, and living arrangement contributes to health inequalities in this population across diverse settings. Little to no research has been done on food insecurity in elderly outside of North America and study findings contribute to significant gap in research in this population across global settings.

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Food Insecurity in Obese Adolescent Females in Tehran Schools: An Examination of Anthropometric and Socio-Economic Factors

Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal ◽

10.12944/crnfsj.7.1.28 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 280-286

Author(s):

AHMAD REZA DOROSTI MOTLAGH ◽

LEILA AZADBAKHT ◽

NAYERE ESMAEIL KABOLI

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Economic Status ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Obese Adolescent ◽

Mother’S Education ◽

Mother's Education

Background: Obesity and its complications affect much of the population of the world today. In addition to physical complications, psychological complications also increase with increasing obesity. It has always been important to pay attention to the growing trend of childhood obesity, which is a factor in adulthood obesity and future chronic illnesses. Today, one of the factors that have been identified as effective in weight gain and obesity in urban communities is food insecurity, which is not merely a lack of food but also includes related factors such as upbringing, behaviour, psychosocial adaptation, and physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of food insecurity on anthropometric indicators and other relevant factors in obese girls aged 11 to 14 years. Method: In this study, 452 obese female students aged 11 to 14 years, who had BMI more than 2SD above the WHO 2007 reference point, were randomly selected from several schools in three areas of Tehran. After obtaining written consent, demographic information and food security information was collected using a General and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) questionnaire. Anthropometric indices and fat percentage were also measured, based on skinfold and by callipers. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: There were significant differences between the level of father's education (p=0.004), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001), and home ownership (p<0.001) in the two groups, food secure and insecure. There were also significant differences between height (p=0.02) and weight (p=0.03) in both groups. Also, according to an alternative 4-group food security categorization (secure, insecure without hunger, insecure with mild hunger, and severe hunger), significant differences were observed only in terms of father's job (p=0.004), father's education (p=0.001), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001) and home ownership (p<0.001). Conclusion: There were significant associations between parents' occupation and education status, home ownership, household economic status, height and weight of children, and household food security status.

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Later life in rental housing: current New Zealand issues

Policy Quarterly ◽

10.26686/pq.v10i3.4500 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sally Keeling

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Older People ◽

Policy Development ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Rental Housing ◽

Later Life ◽

Development Work ◽

Policy Issues ◽

Local Research

Historically, New Zealand has had relatively high rates of home ownership, with widely held aspirations for mortgagefree tenure in later life. As a consequence, examination of the small but growing numbers of older renters has been limited (Nana et al., 2009, p.20). This article draws together local research, commissioned policy development work and comparative evidence to identify the characteristics of older people in rental accommodation, current and projected issues and potential policy issues.

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Women respondents report higher household food insecurity than do men in similar Canadian households

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001300116x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 40-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Jesse Matheson ◽

Lynn McIntyre

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Population Level ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Household Composition ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Annual Household Income ◽

Income Source ◽

Self Employment ◽

Household Food

AbstractObjectiveWe investigated factors accounting for the consistently higher levels of household food insecurity reported by women in Canada.DesignTwo cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey for the years 2005/2006 and 2007/2008 were pooled to examine the association between household food insecurity, measured using the Household Food Security Survey Module and other metrics, and respondent sex. We stratified households as married/cohabiting (in which case, the household respondent was chosen randomly) or non-married (single/widowed/separated/divorced) and adjusted for differences in household characteristics, including the presence of children.SettingCanada.SubjectsAnalysis was restricted to households dependent on employment/self-employment and whose reported annual household income was below $CAN 100 000. Exclusions included respondents less than 18 years of age, any welfare receipt, and missing food insecurity, marital status, income source and amount, or household composition data.ResultsFor non-married households, increased food insecurity in female-v. male-led households was accounted for by significant differences in household socio-economic characteristics. In contrast, in married/cohabiting households with or without children, higher food insecurity rates were reported when the respondent was female and neither respondent characteristics nor socio-economic factors accounted for the differences.ConclusionsHigher rates of food insecurity in non-married households in Canada are largely attributable to women's socio-economic disadvantage. In married households, women appear to report higher levels of food insecurity than men. These findings suggest a possible bias in the measurement of population-level household food insecurity in surveys that do not account for the sex of the respondent in married/cohabiting households.

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Food Insecurity in Portugal Among Middle- and Older-Aged Adults at a Time of Economic Crisis Recovery: Prevalence and Determinants

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0379572119858170 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 504-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Isabel Maia ◽

Teresa Monjardino ◽

Brenda Frias ◽

Helena Canhão ◽

Jaime Cunha Branco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Economic Crisis ◽

Household Income ◽

Short Form ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Skilled Workers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Crisis Recovery

Background: To characterize the scenario of food insecurity in Portugal at a time of economic crisis recovery is of the utmost relevance. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to identify the determinants of food insecurity during economic crisis recovery in a population-based urban sample of middle- and older-aged Portuguese adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 604 participants of the EPIPorto cohort was conducted. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and on food security status were collected. Food security status was assessed using the US Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form. Logistic regression models, crude and adjusted for sex, age, education, and household income perception, were performed. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity was 16.6%. Women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-3.54), those less educated (OR = 5.46; 95% CI: 2.84-10.46), and those who had the perception of an insufficient household income (OR = 10.39; 95% CI: 5.00-21.56) were more likely to belong to a food insecure household. Unmarried individuals (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.05-3.06) and lower white-collar workers (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.03-4.77) were also more prone to live within a food insecure household, regardless of sex, age, education, and household income perception. Conclusions: The obtained information is valuable for the development of intervention strategies to reduce food insecurity in middle- and older-aged adults, suggesting that women, unmarried, less educated individuals, less skilled workers, and lower income families should be targeted.

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