Recent data have shown that children of immigrant noncitizens experience more persistent and higher levels of food insecurity than the children of citizens following welfare reform. However, little is known about the range of factors that might explain different rates of food insecurity in the different populations. In this study, the authors used national data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten cohort to assess this question, using multivariate probit regression analyses in a low-income sample. They found that households of children (foreign and U.S.-born) with noncitizen mothers are at substantially greater risk of food insecurity than their counterparts with citizen mothers and that demographic characteristics such as being Latina, levels of maternal education, and large household size explain about half of the difference in rates. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Communication Barriers longitudinal study Emotions poverty caloric intake Sampling Studies human epidemiology social isolation communication disorder statistics sex difference Longitudinal Studies health service Food Supply health status family size Eligibility Determination Family Characteristics catering service United States Humans Energy Intake attitude Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation preschool child female risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool questionnaire Mothers cultural factor health services social welfare Article organization and management emotion Questionnaires mother adult migration legal aspect Sex Factors Models, Econometric statistical model nutritional status Child Development hunger