Food Insecurity of Children and Shame of Others Knowing They Are Without Food

We studied the association of shame when children experience food insecurity and management strategies. The cross-sectional study assessed food insecurity in 404 children using 2 instruments with 10 and 11 items for food insecurity and management strategies. Food insecurity in children was associated with shame of others knowing that they were out of food (γ = 0.37, P < .01). Nine out of 11 management strategies were associated (P < 0.05) with feeling of shame of being out of food. Older girls were most likely to report shame when they reported lack of food (P < .01). Understanding these relations may increase access to food in socially acceptable ways.