Relationship Among Food Security and Inattention, Executive Functioning, and Learning Problems

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between food security and academic performance, specifically inattention, executive functioning, and learning problems. Using a food security module from the USDA to assess food security and the Conners 3-Parent Short form to assess inattention, executive functioning, and learning problems, parents reported their family’s current level of food security and their child’s current school-related behaviors and performance. Parent reports revealed a proportionate amount of concerns for inattention in households classified as high or marginal food security and low food security and a higher rate of concern for learning problems and executive functioning in households classified as low food security.