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Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
The Association Between Food Insecurity, Parental Stress, and Child Development
Rachel Belans1, Joanne Odom, Paul Kolm
1Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr Belans); Division of Community Pediatrics, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia (Ms Odom and Dr Rethy); Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr Rethy); and MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland (Dr Kolm).
Background And Objectives:
It is recognized that development in the 0-to-5-year period is predictive of lifelong health and well-being and that early childhood development is influenced by parental mental health. Social stressors such as food insecurity can exacerbate parental mental health issues.
Methods:
To improve understanding of this complex interplay, a primary care pediatric practice designed an innovative meal and grocery delivery program for families experiencing food insecurity with at least one child aged 0-5 years. As part of the program, food insecurity, parental mental health, and child development were assessed.
Results:
Food insecurity was found to be correlated with increased stress in the parent-child system, and increased stress was found to be strongly correlated with delays in early childhood developmental progress.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that changes in the parent-child relationship resulting from increased parental stress due to food insecurity can play a role in influencing early childhood development.
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