Food Insecurity During the First Year of COVID-19: Employment and Sociodemographic Factors Among Participants in the CHASING COVID Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: While much has been reported about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity, longitudinal data and the variability experienced by people working in various industries are limited. This study aims to further characterize people experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic in terms of employment, sociodemographic characteristics, and degree of food insecurity.

Methods: The study sample consisted of people enrolled in the Communities, Households and SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology (CHASING) COVID Cohort Study from visit 1 (April-July 2020) through visit 7 (May-June 2021). We created weights to account for participants with incomplete or missing data. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to determine employment and sociodemographic correlates of food insecurity. We also examined patterns of food insecurity and use of food support programs.

Results: Of 6740 participants, 39.6% (n = 2670) were food insecure. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic (vs non-Hispanic White) participants, participants in households with children (vs no children), and participants with lower (vs higher) income and education levels had higher odds of food insecurity. By industry, people employed in construction, leisure and hospitality, and trade, transportation, and utilities industries had the highest prevalence of both food insecurity and income loss. Among participants reporting food insecurity, 42.0% (1122 of 2670) were persistently food insecure (≥4 consecutive visits) and 43.9% (1172 of 2670) did not use any food support programs.

Conclusions: The pandemic resulted in widespread food insecurity in our cohort, much of which was persistent. In addition to addressing sociodemographic disparities, future policies should focus on the needs of those working in industries vulnerable to economic disruption and ensure those experiencing food insecurity can access food support programs for which they are eligible.

Keywords: COVID-19; employment; ethnic disparities; food security; racial disparities.

Figure 1.

Percentage of CHASING COVID Cohort Study participants reporting food insecurity (n = 2670), by visit, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States, April 2020–June 2021. Newly food insecure = participants who reported food insecurity for the initial time in the study, temporarily food insecure = participants who reported food insecurity in ≤3 consecutive visits, and persistently food insecure = participants who reported food insecurity in ≥4 consecutive visits. Abbreviation: CHASING, Communities, Households and SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology.

Figure 2.

Relationship between income loss and food insecurity, by industry, among participants (n = 6740) in the CHASING COVID Cohort Study during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States, April 2020–June 2021. “Other” includes students, homemakers, disabled, those employed in a religious setting, self-employed, and other. Size of circles is proportional to the number of study participants in each category. Abbreviation: CHASING, Communities, Households and SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology.

Figure 3.

Use of food support programs among participants (n = 6740) in the CHASING COVID Cohort Study during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States, April 2020–June 2021. Information on use of food support programs was collected only at visit 6 (February 2021). Multiple responses were permitted. Temporarily food insecure refers to participants who reported food insecurity in ≤3 consecutive visits, and persistently food insecure refers to participants who reported food insecurity in ≥4 consecutive visits. Abbreviations: CHASING, Communities, Households and SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology; P-EBT, pandemic electronic benefits transfer; SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.