Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma
The stigma associated with food assistance can be a barrier to resolving food insecurity. Self-reliance expectations likely contribute to this stigma. Aim: This cross-sectional study identified factors that predict perceptions of food assistance stigma. Demographics (age, sex, race, and ethnicity) w...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/897 |
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| author | Frances Hardin-Fanning Ratchneewan Ross Shuying Sha |
| author_facet | Frances Hardin-Fanning Ratchneewan Ross Shuying Sha |
| author_sort | Frances Hardin-Fanning |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The stigma associated with food assistance can be a barrier to resolving food insecurity. Self-reliance expectations likely contribute to this stigma. Aim: This cross-sectional study identified factors that predict perceptions of food assistance stigma. Demographics (age, sex, race, and ethnicity) were collected, and food assistance stigma (Food Resource Acceptability) and self-reliance (Self-Reliance Scale) were measured via REDCap questionnaires from 531 online participants. The research volunteer repository, Research Match, was used for recruitment. Multiple regression was conducted to determine food assistance stigma predictors. Older age, being male, and reporting higher self-reliance significantly predicted the likelihood of stigmatizing food assistance. The social expectation of self-reliance in adulthood contributes to an assigned and anticipated stigma associated with accepting food assistance. This stigma permeates many regions, particularly the United States, and likely contributes to unresolved food insecurity despite the availability of multiple food assistance resources. Future qualitative research should be conducted among older individuals and males with high levels of self-reliance to gain a deeper understanding of how food assistance stigma could be lessened so that appropriate stigma reduction interventions could be tested among this target group. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efdd21ea15b6419ca8f67f1db083755a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-efdd21ea15b6419ca8f67f1db083755a2025-08-20T03:58:27ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-07-0115789710.3390/bs15070897Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance StigmaFrances Hardin-Fanning0Ratchneewan Ross1Shuying Sha2School of Nursing, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USASchool of Nursing, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USASchool of Nursing, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USAThe stigma associated with food assistance can be a barrier to resolving food insecurity. Self-reliance expectations likely contribute to this stigma. Aim: This cross-sectional study identified factors that predict perceptions of food assistance stigma. Demographics (age, sex, race, and ethnicity) were collected, and food assistance stigma (Food Resource Acceptability) and self-reliance (Self-Reliance Scale) were measured via REDCap questionnaires from 531 online participants. The research volunteer repository, Research Match, was used for recruitment. Multiple regression was conducted to determine food assistance stigma predictors. Older age, being male, and reporting higher self-reliance significantly predicted the likelihood of stigmatizing food assistance. The social expectation of self-reliance in adulthood contributes to an assigned and anticipated stigma associated with accepting food assistance. This stigma permeates many regions, particularly the United States, and likely contributes to unresolved food insecurity despite the availability of multiple food assistance resources. Future qualitative research should be conducted among older individuals and males with high levels of self-reliance to gain a deeper understanding of how food assistance stigma could be lessened so that appropriate stigma reduction interventions could be tested among this target group.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/897food securityfood assistancestigmaself-reliance |
| spellingShingle | Frances Hardin-Fanning Ratchneewan Ross Shuying Sha Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma Behavioral Sciences food security food assistance stigma self-reliance |
| title | Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma |
| title_full | Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma |
| title_fullStr | Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma |
| title_short | Cross-Sectional Analysis of Factors Predicting Food Assistance Stigma |
| title_sort | cross sectional analysis of factors predicting food assistance stigma |
| topic | food security food assistance stigma self-reliance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/897 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT franceshardinfanning crosssectionalanalysisoffactorspredictingfoodassistancestigma AT ratchneewanross crosssectionalanalysisoffactorspredictingfoodassistancestigma AT shuyingsha crosssectionalanalysisoffactorspredictingfoodassistancestigma |