Written by: Chloe Pennington
Food insecurity is a growing concern in the United States, but it is especially prevalent among military-connected families. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that in 2020, approximately one in four military-connected households experienced food insecurity, compared to about one in ten civilian households (USDA, 2024). Research suggests this has remained relatively consistent, with estimates ranging between 25-33% for military families (Beymer & Rabbitt, 2025). While the military is a microcosm of broader society, the structure and unique demands of military life often amplify vulnerability.
Frequent relocations, unpredictable schedules, benefit gaps, difficulty with spousal employment, and high costs of living can strain household resources and contribute to food insecurity. Together, these factors can create conditions in which meeting basic needs, such as consistent access to food, can become uncertain, even for families who may otherwise be resourceful.
What is Food Insecurity?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] defines food insecurity as “limited or uncertain access to adequate nutritious food.” This concept exists within 2 main categories:
- Low food insecurity: Households are generally able to obtain enough food, but rely on coping strategies such as less varied diets, community food resources, or federal assistance programs like SNAP.
- Very low food insecurity: Households experience disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake due to insufficient resources (HHS, 2024)
Food insecurity is often misunderstood as hunger alone. In reality, its effects extend far beyond an empty plate. Research consistently links food insecurity to a wide range of individual, family, and community outcomes, including:
- Psychological effects: heightened stress, anxiety, emotional strain
- Physical health risks: increased likelihood of malnutrition and chronic health conditions
- Cognitive and occupational impacts: low energy, difficulty concentrating, and reduced work performance
- Child and family outcomes: negative impacts on learning, development, and overall child well-being
- Community strain: increased pressure on social support systems and assistance programs (HHS, 2024)
These cumulative stressors do not exist in isolation. They can also shape relationship dynamics within the home.
Examining the Intersection Between Food Insecurity and Intimate Partner Violence
Research increasingly shows that food insecurity is also associated with intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV can include:
- Physical violence and threats
- Emotional manipulation
- Coercive control
- Other behaviors that undermine safety, autonomy, and well-being within a relationship (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024)
While food insecurity does not cause IPV, it functions as an environmental vulnerability factor. This means it compounds stress and reduces stability in households. The burden of chronic stress related to unmet basic needs can intensify existing relationship difficulties or create conditions in which violence may be more likely to occur (McKay & Bennett, 2023).
Importantly, research suggests the relationship between food insecurity and IPV is bidirectional (McKay & Bennett, 2023). Food insecurity can increase vulnerability to IPV, while IPV can further exacerbate food insecurity by limiting access to finances, employment, transportation, or support systems. Military-specific research has found that those experiencing food insecurity were twice as likely to report IPV victimization compared to those who were food secure, even after controlling for demographic, financial, and mental health factors (Beymer & Rabbitt, 2025).
Why Does This Matter?
Addressing food insecurity is not just about providing food; it’s about creating safety, stability, and dignity. In military-connected communities, this presents as a readiness issue that ripples across individuals, families, and systems as a whole. Because food insecurity and IPV are shaped by intersecting personal, relational, and structural factors, they cannot be addressed in isolation.
So, how do we address it when IPV and food insecurity are present in those you support? Our upcoming blog will explore practical strategies providers can use to identify, prevent, and respond to food insecurity as part of IPV-informed care, with a focus on the whole person.
Additional Resources:
- Reporting Options: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/relationships/prevent-violence-abuse/domestic-abuse-military-reporting-options/
- MFAN Food Assistance Resources: https://www.mfan.org/topic/food-insecurity/food-assistance/
- Family Advocacy Program: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/family-advocacy-program/
OneOp Webinar Resources:
- Creating Safe Pathways: Employment Advocacy for Military Spouses in Crisis
- Financial Abuse is Domestic Abuse: Equipping Service Providers to Support Victims
- Risk Factors and Reasons for Food Insecurity Among Service Members
- The Role of the Charitable Food System in Addressing Nutrition and Food Security
References:
- Beymer, M. R., & Rabbitt, M. P. (2025). The association between food insecurity and intimate partner violence among U.S. Army soldiers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 40(3–4), 564–581. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241253024
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). About intimate partner violence. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/index.html
- McKay, F. H., & Bennett, R. (2023). Examining the relationship between food insecurity and family violence: A systematic narrative review. Journal of Family Violence, 40, 369–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00624-5
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2024, May 2). One quarter of the military population experienced food insecurity in 2018 and 2020 (Charts of Note). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=109096
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2024). Food insecurity (Healthy People 2030 literature summary). Healthy People 2030. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/food-insecurity
Photo: Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
