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Effects Of Maternal Depression On Family Food Insecurity, Kelly Noonan, Hope Corman, Nancy E. Reichman

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

Theory suggests that adverse life events—such as unemployment or health shocks—can result in food insecurity, which has increased substantially in the U.S. over the past decade alongside the obesity epidemic. We test this proposition by estimating the effects of a specific and salient mental health event—maternal depression during the postpartum year—on child and family food insecurity. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort, we estimate the effects of maternal depression on food insecurity using both single- and twostage models, and explore potential buffering effects of relevant public assistance programs and supports. We find that moderate to severe maternal …