Janda-Thomte Kathryn M, Mantey Dale S, Bigbie Catherine, Springer Andrew
Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97343, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in Austin, 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 6.300, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Jun;12(3):1900-1909. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02019-8. Epub 2024 May 15.
This study examines correlates of experiences of hunger among adolescents in the United States (U.S) by the intersectionality of race/ethnicity with sociodemographic characteristics (gender, sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss) with the aim of identifying subgroups most at risk for hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This cross-sectional study uses nationally representative data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) collected from January to June 2021. The analytic sample was high school students aged 14-17 with complete data (n = 6023). Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and hunger (1-item measure) among adolescents during the pandemic for the analytic sample and stratified by race/ethnicity.
The prevalence of hunger was 24.1% for the analytic sample and was highest among American Indian/Alaskan Native/Other Pacific Islander youth (37.2%), followed by non-Hispanic Black (31.8%) and Hispanic (28.4%) youth, and lowest among Non-Hispanic White youth (18.6%). In the analytic sample, there were significant differences in experiences of hunger by race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss during the pandemic (p < 0.05). When stratified by race/ethnicity, there were differential associations of hunger with sexual identity, and adolescent/parent job loss.
These findings provide evidence of differential experiences of hunger during the pandemic among adolescents by sociodemographic factors. Results highlight the need for taking an intersectional approach when examining issues such as hunger. Future policies and programs should be mindful of factors associated with hunger and should prioritize using an equity-informed approach when engaging with multiply-marginalized adolescents.
本研究通过种族/族裔与社会人口学特征（性别、性取向以及青少年/父母失业情况）的交叉性，考察美国青少年饥饿经历的相关因素，旨在确定在新冠疫情期间最易面临饥饿风险的亚群体。
本横断面研究使用了2021年1月至6月收集的具有全国代表性的青少年行为与经历调查（ABES）数据。分析样本为14至17岁且数据完整的高中生（n = 6023）。描述性统计、双变量和多变量逻辑回归模型用于检验分析样本中社会人口学因素与疫情期间青少年饥饿情况（单项测量）之间的关联，并按种族/族裔进行分层。
分析样本中饥饿发生率为24.1%，在美国印第安/阿拉斯加原住民/其他太平洋岛民青少年中最高（37.2%），其次是非西班牙裔黑人（31.8%）和西班牙裔（28.4%）青少年，在非西班牙裔白人青少年中最低（18.6%）。在分析样本中，疫情期间不同种族/族裔青少年、不同性取向青少年以及青少年/父母失业情况不同的青少年在饥饿经历方面存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。按种族/族裔分层后，饥饿与性取向以及青少年/父母失业情况之间存在不同的关联。
这些发现证明了疫情期间不同社会人口学因素的青少年在饥饿经历上存在差异。结果凸显了在研究饥饿等问题时采用交叉性方法的必要性。未来的政策和项目应关注与饥饿相关的因素，并在与多重边缘化青少年打交道时优先采用以公平为导向的方法。
