Date
6-19-2024
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Chenwi Ngwa
Keywords
Food insecurity, Universal Meal Program, NSLP, middle class, middle income
Disciplines
Nutrition | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Recommended Citation
Comerford, Ryan Elizabeth, "Meals for All: An Examination of the Effects of Free School Meals on Middle Class Households" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5739.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5739
Abstract
Universal meal programs were created to mitigate childhood food insecurity in low-income communities. It is well known that poverty and food insecurity go hand-in-hand and are often the basis for much academic research within the realm of childhood food insecurity. This study investigates the impact of universal meal programs on food insecurity from a different perspective, that of the middle class. As an under-researched area, the hope is to draw attention to the needs of communities that are often forgotten and may not qualify for social programs, in an effort to reform existing federal policy regarding Universal Meal programs. Utilizing a quantitative survey sourced from the Household Pulse Survey, this cross-sectional study aimed to answer the following research question, what are the effects of a Universal Meal Program (UMP) on food security and meal participation within middle class households? Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software for chi-square and binary logistic regression. Significance was determined by a p-value of <.05 with a 95% CI. The total sample of middle class families revealed a food insecurity rate of 47%. Overall, middle income households with access to a UMP are .936 times less likely to experience food insecurity than those without access to a UMP. The outcome of the investigation contributes to the body of knowledge by creating awareness and providing policymakers with evidence and indicators that demonstrate the benefits of universal school meal programs (UMPs) in middle-class income backgrounds. Specifically, this study demonstrates the potential of universal meal programs (UMPs) as effective mitigation strategies for addressing food insecurity among those who might not meet federal program requirements.
