Disability and food access and insecurity: A scoping review of the literature.

Peer-reviewed article
(2019 May) Health Place, 57 107-121

Authors

Schwartz N, Buliung R, Wilson K

Abstract

A scoping review was conducted, using a social ecological model approach, of 106 articles examining the effect of disability on food access and (in)security. Results of the review show a consistently increased risk of food insecurity among people with disabilities with a higher risk for mental health disabilities, and among disabled younger adults. Mediators of this relationship were underexplored. Disability was mainly conceptualized as a problematic category preventing food access while ignoring disabling social and environmental barriers. A social model of disability can inform future research by acknowledging the role of socio-environmental influences on the production and experience(s) of disability.