Abstract:
This study investigated local perspectives on federal nutrition programs and subsequent mental health outcomes in the context of food (in)security in Greenstown, Alabama. Food insecurity and experienced poverty stigma has been linked to heightened stress levels and common mental disorders in caregivers; diminished mental health in caregivers can influence child mental and behavioral health status. This study aimed to (1) determine the extent to which the utilization of federal nutrition programs influenced parent mental health and child behavioral health; (2) describe household perspectives on school nutrition programs and the role they play in alleviating food insecurity; and (3) identify the presence of poverty stigma as it pertains to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance recipients. Through a mixed methods approach, this study found that caregivers who had lower food security had higher depression symptoms. Further, children with higher food security had higher attention disorder symptoms. Caregivers reported strengths and weaknesses of school nutrition programs. Also, a disconnect in communication between caregivers and school administrators was found. This study identified poverty stigma in respect to SNAP recipients. Historical, political and economic landscapes have perpetuated stigmatizing ideologies of local federal nutrition program use. A bioecocultural anthropological approach revealed the ways in which larger structural factors (i.e., policies) and societal ideologies can influence individual level mental health outcomes. Future research is needed to incorporate child perspectives on food insecurity and federal nutrition programs to provide a holistic view of their developmental niche and subsequent health outcomes that are associated with being reared in an impoverished environment.
