The Tri-Service Food Insecurity Study

Overview of Key Results

Prevalence of food insecurity and health status in the survey sample
• 16.9% of veterans and their families were in food insecure households and 12% of these had some element of hunger.
• The mean mental wellbeing score for survey respondents was 23.38 which was lower than the general population mean of 23.5.
• Less than half of the survey respondents reported having good health (37.7%).
• 49.4% of survey respondents reported having a long-standing medical condition not compensated by the Armed Forces Compensations Scheme and/or War Pension Scheme.
Cross Group Comparisons
The cross-groups comparisons identified the following groups as experiencing statistically significant higher levels of food insecurity:
• Younger survey respondents.
o A further breakdown showed that those who were of working age (below 66 years old) had significantly higher rates of food insecurity.
• Survey respondents in rented accommodation, who were unemployed or reported ‘other’.
• Survey respondents who were single or separated/divorced.
• Survey respondents who had lower mental wellbeing scores.
• Survey respondents who self-reported poor or very poor health.
• Survey respondents who self-reported having a long-standing medical condition.
• Veterans who were not commissioned officers.
o Further analysis indicated that levels of food insecurity reduced as service leaver rank increased.
• Veterans who reported serving a shorter amount of time in the military.
• Survey respondents in receipt of financial support through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, through a service charity or from the Department of Work and Pensions
Regression Analysis
The regression analysis identified odd-ratios and key factors associated with food insecurity. The model explained 28.2% of the variance. Veterans with the factors identified below are more likely to be food insecure.
o Of working age (i.e. below 66 years old and therefore under the current statutory retirement age)
o Not being married
o Living in rented accommodation
o Non-officer rank at time of discharge
o Receiving other benefits
Geospatial Analysis
The geospatial analysis identified the geospatial distribution of survey respondents across the UK and key ‘hot spots’ of food insecurity. However the low sample size restricted the level of analysis available.
• The survey respondents who identified as food insecure were situated across 101 local authorities (LAs).
o Colchester was high in both survey responses and count of responses reporting food insecurity.
o Telford and Wrekin reported a high level of food insecurity, however had a low survey response.
o Fife, Cornwall and Devon had a high survey response but low instances of food insecurity.
• There was a weak positive correlation where LAs with a geographical unit indicating high deprivation, were more likely to have higher responses of food insecurity.