Coping Strategies Used by Food Insecure Households

May 9, 2016 updated by: RTI International

Understanding the Interdependencies Among Three Types of Coping Strategies Used by Very Low Food Security Households With Children

Children without consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food show sustained disadvantages. To improve food security, households utilize three types of coping strategies- participating in governmental feeding and financial assistance programs; obtaining food from nongovernment providers; and using individually developed strategies. To understand the interdependencies among strategies and decision-making processes used to select them, the investigators conducted a two-phased, mixed-methods study using a socio-ecological theoretical framework. First, employing a cross sectional, observational design the investigators administered in-person surveys to 320 adults in very low food secure (VLFS) households with children. Over 1 year later, the investigators repeated select questions and conducted in depth interviews with a cohort (n=28) of participants. Descriptive statistics defined magnitude of associations among strategies. Following bivariate analysis, the investigators assessed interdependencies and factors affecting relationships with log-linear models. The investigators analyzed interviews using an hierarchically ordered, analytical coding structure. With Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the investigators developed typologies of VLFS and created models treating food security as an outcome. The association of soup kitchen use and nutritionally risky behavior was altered by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Food safety-related risky behavior level related to intensity of food pantry use by participation in school food programs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) did not affect the association between soup kitchen use and risky food safety behaviors. Key interview constructs included becoming and being short of food; coping strategies; decisions used to inform choice of strategies; and managing a devalued social status. Improved income stability was a necessary condition for improving food security.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Food insecurity is a serious issue facing households in the United States. In 2012, the time this study was begun, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that almost 15% of U.S. households and one in five households with children were considered to be food insecure. Over one third of these experienced very low food security (VLFS), with multiple indicators of disrupted eating patterns due to inadequate resources. These statistics are of particular concern because children without consistent access to sufficient and nutritious food show sustained disadvantages, including effects on cognition, academic performance, long-term nutritional status, and psychosocial development. To improve their food security, households utilize three types of coping strategies- (1) participating in federal feeding and financial assistance programs ("safety net"), (2) obtaining food from nongovernment Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), and (3) using individually developed coping strategies. The objectives of this study related to developing a better understanding of the coping strategies that VLFS households with children use to ensure that their households have sufficient food. Specifically, the study addressed two main research questions: What are the interdependencies among three types of coping strategies: participating in federal feeding and financial assistance programs ("safety net"), obtaining food from EFPs, and using individually developed coping strategies. What decision-making processes do people in VLFS households with children use when selecting coping strategies to ensure that their households have sufficient food? The investigators conducted a two-phased mixed-methods study of coping strategies used by VLFS households with children <18 years in North Carolina (NC), using a socio-ecological theoretical framework to guide their hypotheses, methods, and analyses. For phase I, the investigators employed a cross sectional, observational design. The investigators used a two-stage sample to recruit 320 clients of service providers who offer assistance to people with limited resources within eight NC counties with the highest food insecurity rates. Trained interviewers administered in-person a survey interview asking clients socio-demographic questions and about their use of three categories of coping strategies. Using a longitudinal design, more than a year after Phase I, in Phase II, the investigators completed in depth interviews with a cohort (n=28) of Phase I participants, selected using maximum variation sampling. During the largely unscripted interviews, participants were asked a select number of close ended questions from Phase I, including the 18 item food security module, to assess changes over the past year and permit comparisons between times one and two. To address the first question, two by two and multi-dimensional contingency tables were constructed to analyze the interdependencies among the three types of coping strategy outcomes. Descriptive statistics (odds ratios, counts and percentages) were performed to define the magnitude of the association among coping strategies. Fisher's exact tests and Chi-square statistics were then employed to assess the statistical significance of the interdependency among the outcomes. To further determine the interdependencies among the three coping strategies, and to assess how individual and household-level factors affect those interdependencies, the investigators employed log-linear models. To address the second research question, the investigators formulated a hierarchically ordered, analytical coding structure that reflected key decision-making constructs (e.g., knowledge of coping strategies, perception of risk of accessibility and availability of coping strategies, barriers to participation in "safety net" programs) and examined the results in terms of the key constructs. Lastly, responses to both sets of questions were jointly reviewed using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), a mixed-methods analysis technique. The investigators implemented a conventional, crisp set for (1) developing typologies of households and individuals experiencing very low food insecurity, and (2) exploring pathways to improving food security status among participants in the follow-up interviews. All procedures involving human participants was reviewed and approved by RTI International's Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
320

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Asheboro, North Carolina, United States, 27203
        • Christians United Outreach Center
      • Asheboro, North Carolina, United States, 27203
        • Salvation Army
      • Clarkton, North Carolina, United States, 28433
        • Bladen Family Support
      • Elizabethtown, North Carolina, United States, 28337
        • Bladen Crisis Assistance Center
      • Ellenboro, North Carolina, United States, 28040
        • Liberty Baptist
      • Forest City, North Carolina, United States, 28043
        • Chase Corner UMC Ministries
      • Forest City, North Carolina, United States, 28043
        • Grace Country Kitchen at Grace of God Rescue Mission
      • Gibson, North Carolina, United States, 28343
        • St. John's UMC
      • Laurel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 28351
        • Higher Dimensions
      • Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States, 28352
        • Church Community Service of Scotland County
      • Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States, 28352
        • Laurinburg Hope In Christ Ministries
      • Lumberton, North Carolina, United States, 28358
        • Robeson County Church and Community Center
      • New Bern, North Carolina, United States, 28560
        • Living Bread Holiness Church
      • New Bern, North Carolina, United States, 28560
        • Religious Community Services
      • Pembroke, North Carolina, United States, 28372
        • Sacred Pathways
      • Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States, 28139
        • Little White Country Church
      • St. Pauls, North Carolina, United States, 28384
        • New Bethel Church
      • Williamston, North Carolina, United States, 27892
        • Black Swamp Church of Christ
      • Williamston, North Carolina, United States, 27892
        • Holy Trinity Church
      • Williamston, North Carolina, United States, 27892
        • Liberty Christian Center Food Pantry
      • Williamston, North Carolina, United States, 27892
        • Unlimited Care
      • Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 27893
        • Christ Deliverance Tabernacle Ministries
      • Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 27893
        • New Christian Food Pantry
      • Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 27893
        • Salvation Army
      • Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 27893
        • Wilson County Interfaith Services: Hope Station
      • Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 27894
        • Willson Praise & Worship Church

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

320 clients of service providers who offer assistance to people with limited resources within eight North Carolina counties with the highest food insecurity rates. Using a longitudinal design, more than a year after Phase I, in Phase II, the investigators completed in depth interviews with a cohort (n=28) of Phase I participants

Description

Inclusion Criteria::

  • 18 years of age or older
  • responsible for getting food for household
  • household assessed to have very low food security
  • children <18 in household
  • consent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

  • less than 18 years of age
  • never responsible for getting food for household
  • no children <18 in household
  • do not consent to participate

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Identify participants who have used at least one target coping strategy
Time Frame: Initial contact
Participants were administered a survey to document their use of at least one target coping strategy within the last twelve months
Initial contact

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
RTI International

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Andrea Anater, Ph.D., RTI International

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 11, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 9, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 10, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 10, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 9, 2016

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 13224

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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