This secondary analysis evaluated the validation of the short version of the US Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) in a Latino migrant population. The Rasch model assessed the HFSSM's structure, item severity levels, and fitness of the sample population. Differential item functioning (DIF) analysis explored the invariance of HFSSM response patterns between less/more acculturated households. Item infit scores were within an adequate range (0.7-1.3). Item severity scores and unidimensionality structure supported the HFSSM's theoretical framework. Analysis showed statistically nonsignificant DIF contrast between acculturation levels. The adapted HFSSM performed in agreement with the theoretical framework of food insecurity as a managed process in this Latino migrant population. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Food security Migrants Rasch model Acculturation Latinos

government priority journal validation study household fitness cultural factor household food security survey module migrant worker Rasch analysis Article food security agricultural worker United States human conceptual framework Hispanic health survey