A Multi-Informant Assessment of Food Security in Adolescents: Discordance in Self-Report and Parent-Proxy Report.

ABSTRACT

Food insecurity is associated with a multitude of negative outcomes among adolescents. Despite adolescents' burgeoning autonomy, much of the research has relied on parent-proxy report, with few studies directly comparing adolescents' and parents' perceptions of adolescent food security. In the present study, parent-adolescent dyads (N = 144) completed questionnaires measuring perceptions of adolescent food security. Adolescents (12-17 years) completed the Child Food Security Survey Module. Parents completed the Household Food Security Survey Module. Dyads demonstrated discordant perceptions of adolescent food security on categorical- and item-levels of analysis. Further research is needed to elucidate explanations for these discrepancies using longitudinal designs.