IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ssefpa/v11y2019i3d10.1007_s12571-019-00934-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Heterogeneous factors predict food insecurity among the elderly in developed countries: insights from a multi-national analysis of 48 countries

Author

Listed:
  • Jae Yeon Park

    (McGill University
    McGill University)

  • Arlette Saint Ville

    (McGill University)

  • Timothy Schwinghamer

    (McGill University)

  • Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

    (McGill University)

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors that characterized elderly survey respondents in 48 developed countries. Cross-sectional data came from the Gallup World Poll for the years 2014 to 2017 based on respondents aged ≥60 years (n = 53,556). Food insecurity was assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, a direct measure of experience-based food insecurity. Descriptive statistics of target populations and the prevalence of food insecurity were produced. Demographic variables included age, gender, marital status, household size, education level, social support, and wellbeing. For socioeconomic variables, income, employment status, urbanicity, and the Community Basics Index were evaluated. A binary logistic regression model was used and the level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Respondents aged 60 to 69 years were the most food insecure. Food insecure individuals were more likely to live alone, not have a partner, and tended to have poorer scores for social support and wellbeing. Also, poor community infrastructure was associated with food insecurity of elderly people, and there were more food insecure elderly people in urban areas. At the multinational level, results indicated wide and statistically significant disparities among continents. The study concluded that not only personal factors but also social conditions could prevent the elderly from achieving full food security status.

Suggested Citation

  • Jae Yeon Park & Arlette Saint Ville & Timothy Schwinghamer & Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez, 2019. "Heterogeneous factors predict food insecurity among the elderly in developed countries: insights from a multi-national analysis of 48 countries," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(3), pages 541-552, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:11:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-019-00934-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00934-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-019-00934-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12571-019-00934-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas B. L. Kirkwood, 2008. "A systematic look at an old problem," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7179), pages 644-647, February.
    2. repec:asi:ajosrd:2012:p:136-141 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Olivia S. Mitchell, "undated". "Retirement Systems in Developed and Developing Countries: Institutional Features, Economic Effects, and Lessons for Economies in Transition," Pension Research Council Working Papers 94-3, Wharton School Pension Research Council, University of Pennsylvania.
    4. AfDB AfDB, . "Improving Statistics for Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development - An Action Plan for Africa (2011–2015) - Bulletin N°3," Global Strategy Implementation Bulletin, African Development Bank, number 368.
    5. World Bank, 2017. "World Development Indicators 2017," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 26447, December.
    6. Olayemi, Adebayo Oyefunke, 2012. "Effects of Family Size on Household Food Security in Osun State, Nigeria," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), vol. 2(02), pages 1-7, June.
    7. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian A. & Singh, Anita, 2016. "Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2015," Administrative Publications 292103, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    8. Adebayo Oyefunke Olayemi, 2012. "Effects of Family Size on Household Food Security in Osun State, Nigeria," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 2(2), pages 136-141.
    9. Coleman-Jensen, Alisha & Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Gregory, Christian A. & Singh, Anita, 2016. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2015," Economic Research Report 262191, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Feyisayo A Odunitan-Wayas & Mieke Faber & Amy E Mendham & Julia H Goedecke & Lisa K Micklesfield & Naomi E Brooks & Dirk L Christensen & Iain J Gallagher & Kathryn H Myburgh & Angus M Hunter & Estelle, 2021. "Food Security, Dietary Intake, and Foodways of Urban Low-Income Older South African Women: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Andrew Allee & Lee R. Lynd & Vikrant Vaze, 2021. "Cross-national analysis of food security drivers: comparing results based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Global Food Security Index," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1245-1261, October.
    3. Cäzilia Loibl & Wändi Bruine de Bruin & Barbara Summers & Simon McNair & Pieter Verhallen, 2022. "Which financial stressors are linked to food insecurity among older adults in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands? An exploratory study," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(2), pages 533-556, April.
    4. Elena Carrillo-Álvarez & Blanca Salinas-Roca & Lluís Costa-Tutusaus & Raimon Milà-Villarroel & Nithya Shankar Krishnan, 2021. "The Measurement of Food Insecurity in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-57, September.
    5. Moncada, Lorenzo & de la O Campos, Ana Paula & Tornarolli, Leopoldo, 2022. "Food insecurity and poverty – A cross-country analysis using national household survey data," ESA Working Papers 330798, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    6. Abda Emam, 2023. "Saudi Fertilizers and Their Impact on Global Food Security: Present and Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Wilna Oldewage-Theron & Abdulkadir A. Egal, 2021. "Is food insecurity a problem among the elderly in Sharpeville, South Africa?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 71-81, February.
    8. Cäzilia Loibl & Alec P. Rhodes & Stephanie Moulton & Donald Haurin & Chrisse Edmunds, 2022. "Food insecurity among older adults in the U.S.: The role of mortgage borrowing," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(2), pages 549-574, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Oludele Akinloye Akinboade & Segun Adeyemi Adeyefa, 2018. "An Analysis of Variance of Food Security by its Main Determinants Among the Urban Poor in the City of Tshwane, South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 61-82, May.
    2. Sabikun Nahar Himi & Mohammad Amirul Islam1 & Shankar Majumder, 2020. "Determinants Of Food Insecurity Status Of Fisheries Community In Coastal Regions Of Bangladesh," Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, vol. 41(2), December.
    3. Akerele, Dare & Tiffin, R. & Srinivasan, C. S., 2013. "Household Food Demand in Nigeria: an Application of Multivariate Double-hurdle Model," 87th Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2013, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 158700, Agricultural Economics Society.
    4. Fahmida Dil Farzana & Ahmed Shafiqur Rahman & Sabiha Sultana & Mohammad Jyoti Raihan & Md Ahshanul Haque & Jillian L Waid & Nuzhat Choudhury & Tahmeed Ahmed, 2017. "Coping strategies related to food insecurity at the household level in Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Sriroop Chaudhuri & Mimi Roy & Louis M. McDonald & Yves Emendack, 2021. "Coping Behaviours and the concept of Time Poverty: a review of perceived social and health outcomes of food insecurity on women and children," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 1049-1068, August.
    6. Nkechi S. Owoo, 2021. "Demographic considerations and food security in Nigeria," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 23(1), pages 128-167, June.
    7. Alexandria J. Drake & Lora A. Phillips & Brajesh Karna & Shakthi Bharathi Murugesan & Lily K. Villa & Nathan A. Smith, 2023. "Food insecurity and disasters: predicting disparities in total and first-time food pantry visits during the COVID-19 pandemic," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 493-504, April.
    8. Ourega-Zoé Ejebu & Stephen Whybrow & Lynda Mckenzie & Elizabeth Dowler & Ada L Garcia & Anne Ludbrook & Karen Louise Barton & Wendy Louise Wrieden & Flora Douglas, 2018. "What can Secondary Data Tell Us about Household Food Insecurity in a High-Income Country Context?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Jeffrey H Dorfman & Christian Gregory & Zhongyuan Liu & Ran Huo, 2019. "Re-Examining the SNAP Benefit Cycle Allowing for Heterogeneity," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 41(3), pages 404-433.
    10. Wendy L. Ward & Taren M. Swindle & Angela L. Kyzer & Nicola Edge & Jasmin Sumrall & Leanne Whiteside-Mansell, 2019. "Maternal Depression: Relationship to Food Insecurity and Preschooler Fruit/Vegetable Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Marcia Y. Shade & Matthew Witry & Katie Robinson & Kevin Kupzyk, 2019. "Analysis of oral dietary supplement use in rural older adults," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(9-10), pages 1600-1606, May.
    12. Akbar Akbar & Rahim Darma & Imam Mujahidin Fahmid & Andi Irawan, 2023. "Determinants of Household Food Security during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    13. Nyangau, Paul & Muriithi, Beatrice & Irungu, Patrick & Nzuma, Jonathan & Diiro, Glacious, 2017. "Assessing the impact of integrated pest management (IPM) technology for mango fruit fly control on food security among smallholders in Machakos County, Kenya," 91st Annual Conference, April 24-26, 2017, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland 258650, Agricultural Economics Society.
    14. Maria Adam Nyangasa & Christoph Buck & Soerge Kelm & Mohammed Sheikh & Antje Hebestreit, 2019. "Exploring Food Access and Sociodemographic Correlates of Food Consumption and Food Insecurity in Zanzibari Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, May.
    15. Elena Grimaccia & Alessia Naccarato, 2019. "Food Insecurity Individual Experience: A Comparison of Economic and Social Characteristics of the Most Vulnerable Groups in the World," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 391-410, May.
    16. Joshua Berning & Rebecca Cleary & Alessandro Bonanno, 2023. "Food insecurity and time use in elderly vs. non‐elderly: An exploratory analysis," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(1), pages 280-299, March.
    17. Wan Ying Gan & Norhasmah Sulaiman & Leh Shii Law & Nurzalinda Zalbahar & Salma Faeza Ahmad Fuzi & Martin A. Wilkes, 2020. "Exploration of Food-Seeking Behaviour, Food Preparation, and Restrictions to Sufficient Food among the Jahai Sub-Tribe (Indigenous People) in Gerik, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, January.
    18. Joshua Berning & Alessandro Bonanno & Rebecca Cleary, 2024. "Disparities in food insecurity among Black and White households: An analysis by age cohort, poverty, education, and home ownership," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(1), pages 234-254, March.
    19. Shamsheer Ul Haq & Pomi Shahbaz & Azhar Abbas & Zahira Batool & Bader Alhafi Alotaibi & Abou Traore, 2022. "Tackling Food and Nutrition Insecurity among Rural Inhabitants: Role of Household-Level Strategies with a Focus on Value Addition, Diversification and Female Participation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, February.
    20. Lovemore G. Mwanandi & Cherrie Mwanandi, 2022. "Impact of Family Structure on Household Economy in Malawi: A Case of Chinsapo 2 and Area 49, an Urban Setting in Lilongwe City in Malawi," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(3), pages 247-260, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:11:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-019-00934-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.