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Utilizing an Intersectional Approach to Examine Experiences of Hunger Among Adolescents During COVID-19: Considering Race/Ethnicity, Sexual Identity, and Employment Disparities in a Nationally Representative Sample

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Abstract

Purpose

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

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Data Availability

The data used for this study, the Adolescent Behaviors and Experience Survey (ABES), are publicly available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Study design, sampling, and procedures of the parent ABES study are described elsewhere [45], but the data used for this analysis can be made available by request.

Code Availability

The code used for this data analysis can be made available by request.

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Funding

This paper was conceptualized while KMJT and DM were completing their postdoctoral fellowship as part of the T32 The National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant, NCI/NIH Grant T32/CA057712, awarded to the University of Texas Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health Cancer Education and Career Development Program. Additionally, CB was supported during her MPH work by the Department of Public Health in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97343, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Kathryn M. Janda-Thomte & Catherine Bigbie

  2. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in Austin, 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 6.300, Austin, TX, 78701, USA

    Dale S. Mantey & Andrew Springer

  3. Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, 1616 Guadalupe Street, Suite 6.300, Austin, TX, 78701, USA

    Dale S. Mantey & Andrew Springer

Authors
  1. Kathryn M. Janda-Thomte
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  4. Andrew Springer
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Contributions

Conceptualization and development of the data analysis plan were developed by Kathryn M. Janda-Thomte and Dale Mantey. Data analysis was completed by Dale Mantey. First draft of the manuscript and tables were developed by Kathryn M. Janda-Thomte and Catherine Bigbie. Revisions of the manuscript were completed by all authors, and all authors read and approved of the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathryn M. Janda-Thomte.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

This was a non-human subjects study and the Research Ethics Committee at Baylor University has confirmed that no ethical approval was required. This specific analysis, study design, and all protocols were reviewed by the Baylor University Institutional Review Board, and due to the deidentified nature of this analysis, this study was deemed exempt (IRB # − 1978521).

Consent to Participate

Due to the nature of secondary data analysis with deidentified publicly available data, it was not possible for our authorship team to obtain consent for this particular analysis. However, study design and protocols of the parent ABES study have been described elsewhere [45].

Consent for Publication

Due to the nature of secondary data analysis with deidentified publicly available data, it was not possible for us to reach out to participants for consent to publish this specific study. However, study design and protocols of the parent ABES study have been described elsewhere [45].

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Janda-Thomte, K.M., Mantey, D.S., Bigbie, C. et al. Utilizing an Intersectional Approach to Examine Experiences of Hunger Among Adolescents During COVID-19: Considering Race/Ethnicity, Sexual Identity, and Employment Disparities in a Nationally Representative Sample. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-02019-8

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