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The Effect Of The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program On Mortality
Colleen M Heflin1, Samuel J Ingram2, James P Ziliak3
1Colleen M. Heflin ( cmheflin@syr. edu ) is a professor of public administration and international affairs and a senior research associate at the Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University, in New York.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|November 5, 2019
Summary
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may reduce premature mortality. Research indicates SNAP participation is linked to a 1-2 percentage point decrease in all-cause mortality among adults aged 40-64.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Nutrition Policy
Background:
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a major US food aid initiative.
- While SNAP reduces food insecurity, its causal impact on adult health outcomes, particularly mortality, is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between SNAP participation and premature mortality in US adults.
- To quantify the potential impact of SNAP on all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health Interview Survey (1997-2009) linked to the National Death Index (1999-2011).
- Employed bivariate probit models to analyze the relationship between SNAP participation and mortality.
- Focused analysis on adults aged 40-64.
Main Results:
- SNAP participation was associated with a population-wide reduction of 1-2 percentage points in all-cause mortality.
- SNAP participation demonstrated a reduction in mortality from specific causes among adults aged 40-64.
Conclusions:
- SNAP participation shows a significant association with reduced premature mortality in US adults.
- Findings suggest potential public health benefits of SNAP beyond food security, including mortality reduction.
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