Rising grocery prices linked to food insufficiency and mental health struggles in US households
A Penn State study published in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy found that higher grocery costs increase the risk of food insufficiency and worsen mental health across four distinct household profiles.
Four household coping profiles identified
Researchers analyzed data from the Household Pulse Survey to categorize how families manage rising costs. The four groups included those who did not change habits, shoppers switching to generic brands, households cutting other financial obligations, and people going without food despite need. Every profile showed increased spending alongside higher risks of hunger and poorer mental health outcomes.
National survey data used for analysis
The study utilized information collected by the U.S. Census Bureau to measure impacts from economic disruptions like the pandemic. Yizao Liu, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Penn State, served as the lead author on this research. Findings were released in a journal focused on applied economic perspectives and policy.
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