Food Insecurity, Chronic Disease and Quality of Life among Deaf Adults who use American Sign Language

A Engelman; P Kushalnagar

doi:10.1080/19320248.2019.1699220

Food Insecurity, Chronic Disease and Quality of Life among Deaf Adults who use American Sign Language

J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2021;16(2):271-280. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2019.1699220. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Authors

A Engelman¹, P Kushalnagar^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA.
² Department of Psychology, Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.
³ Deaf Health Communication and Quality of Life Center, Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Abstract

This study examined the relationships of food insecurity, chronic diseases, and QoL in a U.S. sample of 630 deaf adults (18 to 89 years old; 55% female) who used American Sign Language (ASL). Measures of USDA Food Security Module, self-reported diagnoses of chronic diseases, and QoL were administered in ASL and English. Approximately 22% reported facing food insecurity, with low food security (11%) and very low food security (11.4%). QoL, but not the presence of chronic diseases, was significantly associated with food insecurity. Higher income and absence of depression acted as protective factors, reducing the risk for food insecurity.

Keywords: Chronic disease; Deaf; Food security; Sign language; deafness; disability; quality of life.

Abstract

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