Nutr Res Pract.  2014 Aug;8(4):425-431.

Factors contributing to participation in food assistance programs in the elderly population

• Hong SA
• Kim K

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
The study objectives were to examine the participation rate in food assistance programs and explore the factors that contribute to such participation among the Korean elderly population.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
The study sample comprised 3,932 respondents aged 65 years or older who were selected from a secondary data set, the fourth Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS). The factors, related to participation in programs were examined based on the predisposing, enabling and need factors of the help-seeking behavior model. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to select the best contributors among the factors related to program participation.
RESULTS
The predisposing rate in food assistance programs was 8.5% (7.1% for men and 10.4% for women). When all variables were included in the model, living without spouse, no formal education, low income, having social security benefits and food insecurity in elderly men, and age, low income, having social security benefits and feeling poor in elderly women were significantly related to a higher tendency to program participation.
CONCLUSIONS
The predisposing and need factors, such as living without spouse, low education level, food insecurity and feeling poor were important for program participation, as well as enabling factors, such as household income and social security benefits. A comprehensive approach considering these factors to identify the target population for food assistance programs is needed to increase the effectiveness and target population penetration of these programs.

Keyword

Food assistance programs; food insecurity; income; the elderly population

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Causality
Surveys and Questionnaires
Dataset
Education
Family Characteristics
Female
Food Assistance*
Food Supply
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Social Security
Spouses

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