Food Insecurity Among Households With Children in the United States: A Comparative Analysis of SNAP Participants and Nonparticipants

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a significant public policy issue for households with children in the United States. This study examines differences in household food-security status between households with children that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and those that do not, using data from the December 2023 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, the study examines food-security status and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics among SNAP-participating and nonparticipating households. The final household-level sample included 3,943 households with children. Among SNAP-participating households, 50.6% experienced low or very low food security, while the remaining 49.4% had high or marginal food security. Among nonparticipating households, 27.3% experienced low or very low food security, while 72.7% had high or marginal food security. A Pearson chi-square test identified a statistically significant association between SNAP participation and household food-security status, χ²(2, N = 3,943) = 214.223, p < .001. In a multivariate logistic regression controlling for household income, education, race, marital status, employment status, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, sex, number of children, and age, SNAP participation remained significantly associated with food insecurity (OR = 1.895, 95% CI [1.606, 2.235], p < .001). Because SNAP participation is not randomly assigned and the CPS-FSS is cross-sectional, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than evidence that SNAP participation causes food insecurity. Overall, the findings highlight the substantial food-related and economic vulnerability experienced by many households with children participating in SNAP. The persistence of food insecurity among participating households underscores the importance of nutrition-assistance policies that not only maintain access to SNAP but also consider whether benefit levels and complementary supports are sufficient to meet the needs of economically vulnerable families with children.