Exploring the Relationship Between Sending Remittances and Food Security in a Multi-State Survey of Dominicans in the...

To examine how remittance behavior and pandemic-related disruptions to remitting affect household food security among Dominicans in the United States, highlighting the nutritional implications of transnational economic obligations for immigrant families. Cross-sectional data from the 2021 CUNY Dominican Health Survey. A probabilistic survey of Dominican adults during the COVID-19 pandemic residing in seven U.S. states that collectively encompass most of the Dominican population in the U.S. (New York, New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Connecticut). A total of 785 adults of Dominican origin, with household food insecurity (past month) and food pantry use (past 16 months) as outcomes, remittance frequency (none, other, low, moderate, high) as the key predictor, and COVID-19-related disruptions to remitting (yes/no) as a moderator. Overall, 28% of participants (n = 227) reported low household food security, and 42.1% (n = 352) reported pantry use. Survey-weighted logistic regression models showed that compared with non-remitters, weekly and moderate remitters had significantly higher odds of household low food security and pantry use. Stratified models further revealed that COVID-related disruptions to remittance behavior magnified the associations with remitting frequency, low food security, and pantry use. Transnational financial responsibilities may impose economic strain on sending households, increasing their vulnerability to food insecurity. Simultaneously, remittance behaviors reflect enduring social ties and resilience among Dominican families. These findings highlight the need for nutrition policies that account for transnational economic commitments in immigrant populations.