Community Food Security: The Multi-Level Association Between Social Capital, Economic Capital, and Diet Quality

Diet quality varies widely across geographic areas in the United States and is a critical component of community well-being. Community food security (CFS) relates to the availability, stability, and access to food at the community level, and how these issues connect to the community food production system. This study explores the joint relationship between community social capital, economic capital, and individual diet quality. Hierarchical generalized linear mixed model regression using publicly available data from 2005–2009. The sample consisted of 216,381 adult respondents nested within 283 micro/metropolitan counties. After controlling for individual level factors, social network density was significantly associated fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC), but not obesity. However, income inequality was associated with greater rates of FVC and lower likelihood of obesity. County-level poverty rates were not associated with FVC but had a negative relationship with probability of obesity. Household size, a proxy for household social capital, was positively associated with FVC and negatively related to probability of obesity. Findings from this study suggest a strong role for social capital and economic factors in CFS. This study also reinforces the importance of strengthening theoretical explanations of the role social capital at the community and household levels play in CFS to guide practice and evaluation for community well-being initiatives.