3 - (SYM 45) Collateral Consequences of Household Incarceration: Implications for Emerging Adult Food Insecurity and Disordered Eating

The incarceration of a household member has ripple effects for the family left behind. In particular, food-related public assistance benefits are often cut off in the context of incarceration, leading to higher rates of food insecurity among households affected by incarceration. Upon re-entry, myriad barriers exist to the reinstatement of food-related public assistance benefits and some offenses render individuals permanently ineligible. Despite the lasting risk for food insecurity among affected households, no known research has examined whether the risk for food insecurity extends into adulthood for children who experienced the incarceration of a household member. Further, despite accumulating evidence linking food insecurity to disordered eating, there is no research on whether young people impacted by household incarceration are at elevated disordered eating risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how experiencing household incarceration in childhood related to risk for food insecurity and disordered eating in emerging adulthood [i.e., binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs)], and explore the role of public assistance receipt in mitigating such risk. Participants (N=1,518) from the longitudinal, population-based EAT 2010-2018 study completed surveys in emerging adulthood. Logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disordered eating in adolescence (when applicable) were conducted. Participants who experienced household incarceration in childhood had 2.76 greater odds of being food insecure in emerging adulthood, and their risk of food insecurity was less likely to be offset by public assistance than those not impacted by household incarceration (OR=1.89). Food insecurity, but not household incarceration, was associated with 1.89 greater odds of binge eating, consistent with prior research. However, household incarceration history was associated with 1.57 greater odds of UWCBs, even when accounting for FI. Findings suggest household incarceration may have intergenerational implications for impacted youth, with the risk for FI extending into adulthood and public assistance less likely to offset this risk. Results also highlighted a link between household incarceration history and UWCBs not fully explained by FI, which merits further exploration. These results suggest involvement in the criminal legal system may have lasting consequences, which can inform future food policy and eating disorder prevention efforts.