title: Food security among young adults with disabilities in the United States: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior research has suggested that young adults with disabilities face economic, health and social disadvantage. Food security, an area of disadvantage that can influence overall health, has not been fully explored for this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine levels of food security between young adults with and without disabilities, controlling for individual characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression analysis of a nationally representative sample of young adults (age 18-25) (n = 32,795) with and without disabilities, using pooled data form the 2011-2013 National Health Interview Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Young adults with disabilities have significantly higher odds (OR: 2.58, p < 0.001) of living in a household that is food insecure than young adults without disabilities, even when controlling for individual characteristics. Odds of living in a household that is food insecure are particularly high (OR: 5.35, p < 0.001) among young adults with high levels of psychological distress, controlling for other factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young adults with disabilities have increased odds of living in a household that is food insecure. This study has important policy and community program implications.
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability, 10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101, Durham, NH 03824, USA. Electronic address: debra.brucker@unh.edu.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Brucker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disability; Food security; Psychological distress