Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Sociology

Committee Chair

Wesley James

Committee Member

Joseph Lariscy

Committee Member

Junmin Wang

Abstract

This study explores the association between household food security status and physical health conditions among U.S. adults from 2019 to 2023, utilizing nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (n=134,904). Multivariable logistic regression models indicate that adults facing food insecurity exhibit significantly higher odds of reporting poor or fair self-rated health (OR = 2.43) and are at heightened risk for various chronic conditions, including heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cancer. The findings demonstrate that food insecurity serves as a strong and consistent predictor of adverse health outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities, particularly non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults, as well as rural populations, highlighting the interconnected influences of systemic inequality, geographic isolation, and neighborhood disadvantages. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating structural interventions into public health and food assistance policies to tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity and chronic illness in marginalized communities.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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