Food Insecurity-Related Stigma Among Adults in the United States: A Scoping Review
McKenna M Halverson1, Evyn Y Appel1, Valerie A Earnshaw2
1Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP
|September 6, 2025
Summary
Stigma surrounding food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC deters participation. Addressing this stigma is crucial for improving food security and program effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Nutrition Policy
Background:
- Food insecurity is a significant public health issue in the US.
- Government (SNAP, WIC) and emergency food programs are vital resources.
- Stigma associated with program utilization can be a barrier to access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize individual- and structural-level stigma related to food assistance program use.
- To synthesize existing research on stigma and its impact on program participation.
- To identify gaps and future research directions in understanding food insecurity stigma.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts).
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed articles from January 2004 to June 2024, focusing on US adults and food insecurity.
- Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of 99 selected articles.
Main Results:
- Most studies focused on individual-level stigma (57.4%) using qualitative designs (62.6%).
- Food insecure adults were the most studied population (25.2%).
- Anticipated stigma (29.8%) was the most frequently reported manifestation, hindering program uptake.
Conclusions:
- Stigma significantly impacts food assistance program participation and effectiveness.
- Policymakers and administrators must develop and test stigma-reduction strategies.
- Future research should address intersectional stigma, develop stigma measures, and evaluate interventions longitudinally.
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