An Analysis of the Determinants of Food Insecurity with Severe Hunger in Selected Southern States

This study predicts food insecurity with severe hunger versus food insecurity with moderate hunger among low-income households with children and without children. Data for the study was generated from a survey of the clients of nonprofit food assistance agencies in selected southern states. The questionnaire incorporated the 18 core questions for assessing food insecurity, as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of users. A two-stage process involving the application of the Rasch measurement scale and the Logit model was employed to analyze the data. Results indicate that for both households with children and households without children, income was a significant predictor of food insecurity with severe hunger. However, the food stamp recipient variable was an equally important predictor of severe food insecurity among households with children. State and rural-urban differences were also analyzed