Approximately 40% of the over 42 million Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are children under 18. This crucial assistance aids families in purchasing groceries, positively impacting children’s health both during their formative years and as they mature into adulthood.
As a developmental psychologist, I examine how stress and nutrition affect children’s physical and mental health, and the implications of these effects throughout their lives.
Concerns are mounting among researchers regarding the disruptions in SNAP benefits stemming from the 2025 government shutdown and the budgetary cuts implemented in a major tax-and-spending bill signed by President Donald Trump on July 4. These changes are expected to elevate stress levels among children and limit their access to nutritious food.
Impact of Food Insecurity on Children
The term food insecurity describes a situation where individuals lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food. During childhood, this condition is linked to poorer physical health, including a heightened risk for asthma and chronic illnesses.
Food insecurity is also correlated with a greater likelihood of obesity in children. While this may seem contradictory, the lack of nutritious food often leads individuals to consume high-fat, high-sugar diets consisting of cheap, filling foods that contribute to weight gain.
Even temporary disruptions in SNAP benefits can adversely affect children. Though short-term impacts are challenging to measure, research on a brief food shortage in Kenya indicates prolonged effects on both parents and children.
Additionally, SNAP spending cuts, as seen in Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” are predicted to deprive many children of their nutritional needs, particularly those families who depended on SNAP for food security.
A 2025 study from Northwestern and Princeton universities, which tracked over 1,000 U.S. children into adulthood, found that childhood food insecurity is linked to higher cardiovascular risks in later life. However, this risk can be mitigated when children facing food insecurity receive SNAP benefits.
Pregnant women experiencing food insecurity face serious health risks, not only for themselves but also for their babies. A 2025 study reviewing medical records of over 19,000 pregnant women in the U.S. revealed that those facing food insecurity were more likely to experience complications during pregnancy, such as preterm birth, gestational diabetes, or extended hospital stays. The study also found that government food aid, like SNAP, helped mitigate these risks.
Psychological Effects of Food Insecurity
Research from 2021 involving over 100,000 U.S. children, conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, and Kaiser Permanente, found that children experiencing food insecurity had a 50% higher risk of anxiety or depression within a 12-month span compared to those who did not.
Food insecurity in childhood is also associated with behavioral issues and reduced academic performance. These challenges can lead to poorer health outcomes and limited career opportunities in adulthood.
Children and infants facing food insecurity are also more prone to nutrient deficiencies, such as iron deficiency. Research, including a review I participated in, shows that iron deficiency during critical brain development periods can cause lasting damage.
Further studies I’ve contributed to indicate that early iron deficiency is linked to cognitive deficits, mental health issues, and lower educational attainment later in life.
Complexities of Stress in Childhood
Food insecurity often coincides with other stressors such as poverty, homelessness, and limited health care access. Research from various groups, including my own, highlights that multiple stressors in childhood can adversely affect mental and physical well-being, including stress management.
Parents dealing with food insecurity often experience significant stress, which can lead to mental health issues, and may increase the likelihood of harsh parenting styles. This stress negatively impacts children, potentially resulting in parental aggression and temper loss.
Challenges of SNAP Benefits
Even before the 2025 government shutdown affected SNAP funding, the benefits often failed to fully cover the cost of feeding families. Many recipients had to rely on food banks and pantries, especially towards the month’s end.
A grocer from South Dakota shared his observations on Facebook in November 2025, detailing how families eagerly await SNAP disbursement days to purchase what he described as their “first real food in days.”
