Yellow Stickers: A mixed methods study exploring household food poverty experiences, in the UK

Abstract

Background: As more and more British people struggle to make ends meet and turn to food banks to feed themselves, food poverty has become a serious and growing public health concern in the United Kingdom (UK). There is a clear need for effective policies and interventions to prevent and alleviate food poverty. Aim: This thesis aimed to explore household food poverty experiences in order to develop an understanding of the current nature and vulnerability of food poverty in the UK. The research findings inform policy and practice in improving food and nutrition security for those most vulnerable. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was adopted for this thesis, where the qualitative phase of data collection and analysis informed the quantitative phase. The first qualitative phase of the study was conducted in Greater Manchester and comprised of two exploratory investigations, in which in-depth interviews were carried out. The first study explored food poverty experiences, and coping practices from forty-two food insecure householders visiting food banks, food pantries, and community centres. The second study explored the perspectives of twenty-six frontline service providers on the local nature and vulnerability of food poverty along with programme responses to alleviate food hardships. The interviews were examined using thematic analysis. The findings generated from these two studies informed the development of the quantitative follow-up study. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among single mother households using secondary data from the Family Resources Survey (2019/20). Descriptive statistics and multi-logistic analyses were used to analyse the quantitative data. Key findings: The findings from study 1, revealed that food insecure householders often employ multiple coping practices such as resourceful shopping and budgeting practices, cutting back on food quality and intake, and seeking support from food banks, family or friends. Regardless, regular and extended disruptions in food access and eating were commonly reported because of limited money. In study 2, frontline service providers described cost-of-living gaps in working wages and welfare benefits, exacerbated by rising living costs were driving local food poverty issues. Single mother families and single men, were found to be disproportionately accessing food banks compared to other households. Although, food banks have grown substantially in response to rising need and they provide immediate relief from hunger for a few days, there was a deep sense of shame associated with accessing them. Moreover, food banks like other community food aid programmes have limited ability to reduce and prevent food poverty since they do not address the driving factors behind income poverty. In the third study, high levels of food insecurity were found among single mother households. Thirty percent of single mother households were classified as being food insecure, however, in households with three or more children this rose to 41 percent. Conclusions: The findings in this thesis highlight serious food security concerns for welfare recipients and low waged workers. It is a particular salient problem among single mothers and their children who experience high levels of food insecurity. Given the adverse health and social consequences of food poverty the government should prioritise and lead on this issue through policy initiatives and legislation that tackle income poverty alongside efforts that support and strengthen third sector responses in alleviating food poverty in the UK.