EXPERIENCES OF FOOD-INSECURE MOTHERS NAVIGATING THE FOOD SYSTEM FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLDS

Abstract

In 2021, it was estimated that 10.2% of US households were food insecure throughout the entire year. Food-insecure families make challenging decisions that reduce their normal intake of food. The documented relationship between food insecurity and adverse health outcomes in children illuminates a concerning pattern of heightened risks across various health indicators. Little is known about which factors are the most useful in combating the negative influences of food insecurity, including poverty. Underpinned by a theoretical framework integrating the social ecological framework, the four dimensions of food insecurity, and a strengths-based perspective, this dissertation used a robust qualitative approach to explore the experiences of mothers who navigate the food system for their households. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted over Zoom with twenty low-income mothers who regularly use food pantries in Maryland, who were recruited through online advertisements and community partners. Participants were primarily U.S.-born, aged 30–39 years, and Christian; most were employed full-time, earned less than $40,000 annually, and had two or more children. Transcripts from the interviews were iteratively analyzed as data were collected, using thematic analysis, which involved iterative familiarization, coding, theme construction, and refinement. To complement this analysis, a decision tree model was developed to depict how individual, social, and structural influences shaped mothers’ decisions about food access. Results revealed that mothers drew on personal resilience, social networks, and community food resources to manage household food needs, yet faced persistent barriers related to transportation, stigma, and system navigation. Study implications include the need for community-based interventions that strengthen social support, improve accessibility of food resources, and recognize the agency and adaptive strategies of mothers in food-insecure households.