A Follow-up Study of Child Hunger in Canada - June 2001

Abstract

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This study reports on findings from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) for children who experienced hunger in 1996. It also compares these children with those who had been hungry in 1994. Findings on children who were hungry in both years are also presented.

The results reveal that hunger remained a directly measurable experience among a small group of NLSCY children. While the characteristics of hungry families are similar over time, there is a great deal of fluidity among hungry families. Hunger is associated with poor health in the child and in the Person Most Knowledgeable about the Child (PMK), and it is directly related to family dysfunction. A precipitous decline in income (likely associated with job loss) and an additional sibling in the household are important risk factors for a family entering the hunger state.

More specifically, in the 1996 NLSCY cycle, 265 families among 16,433 reported experiencing hunger at some time. While only 1.6% of the NLSCY sample, these families represent about 75,615 Canadian families. This proportion is similar to the adjusted rate of 1.4% seen in the 1994. 37.5% reported being hungry at least every few months.

Hungry families were six times more likely to be lone-parent led than non-hungry families and over eight times more likely to receive social assistance or welfare. Persons of aboriginal descent were four times more likely than other respondents to report hunger. Still, 54% of hungry households received their main income from employment.

Both the PMK and the child were reported to have significantly poorer health than non-hungry PMKs and children. Asthma disproportionately affected children of hungry families. Cigarette use by the PMK was two times higher in hungry households than non-hungry households.

The independent predictors of hunger in 1996 NLSCY families were low household income, lack of two biological parents, more siblings, fair or poor PMK health, and aboriginal ethnic group. The independent predictors of frequent hunger were low household income, more siblings, and mother's education less than high school.

The families reporting hunger were asked to respond to questions on how they coped when they had insufficient food. Overall, 33.2% reported that the parent skipped meals or ate less; 4.9%, that the child skipped meals or ate less; and 21.2%, that the family cut down on variety of food. 31.8% sought help from relatives; 34.7% used food banks, and 28.7% sought help from friends.

358 families in the NLSCY cohort reported ever being hungry in either 1994 or 1996. Only 81 or 22.6% of hungry families reported persistent hunger, i.e., hunger in both time periods. Of the three groups studied, persistently hungry families had the least change in sociodemographic variables (educational levels, family structure, and employment status). Families moving into a hunger state were more likely to report change in child health status (but not deterioration) and mothers' employment status, deterioration in PMK health status, significant improvement in fathers' education but worsened full-time work status (lost job), and at least one additional sibling in the household. Families moving out of the hunger state were most likely to improve income adequacy and to report that mother gained full-time work.

The mean annual household income change for those who moved out of hunger was $3,827. For those who moved into hunger, mean annual household income was reduced by $2,690; and for those who persisted in hunger, it increased by $2,966.

Family functioning and child health status were assessed using a continuous scale, with higher scores indicating higher family dysfunction. Families with the highest scores in family dysfunction were those who were persistently hungry. Hunger reported in 1994 or in 1996 was also significantly related to family dysfunction. In 1996, hunger negatively affected health status in boys, and the longitudinal experience of hunger negatively affected girls' health status.