Dataset Information

Female sex and food insecurity in relation to self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults: a cross-sectional study using national survey data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women with food insecurity are at higher risk for mental health disorders. This study examined the joint effect of female sex and food insecurity on self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults.

Methods

The analysis was based on data from adults (age ? 18 yr) who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2015-2016. We determined past-year food security level (secure, moderately insecure or severely insecure) based on 18 questions. We used log-binomial regression to explore associations of sex and food insecurity with self-reported poor or fair mental health. We measured additive interaction between female sex and food insecurity using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).

Results

The overall response rate for the CCHS was 59.5%. Data for 61 446 respondents were analyzed. Poor or fair mental health was reported by 4107 participants (6.1% when weighted to the Canadian population). Increased risk of poor or fair mental health was associated with female sex (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.31), and moderate (PR 2.50, 95% CI 2.21 to 2.82) and severe (PR 4.03, 95% CI 3.59 to 4.52) food insecurity. Significant additive interaction between female sex and severe food insecurity was found for those aged 40-64 years (RERI 1.38, 95% CI 0.29 to 2.47), and the PR for poor or fair mental health for severely food-insecure women was 5.55 (95% CI 4.48 to 6.89) compared to food-secure men of the same age group.

Interpretation

Poor or fair mental health is common in the food-insecure population, and there exists synergism between female sex and severe food insecurity among middle-aged people. This suggests the need to develop targeted mental health support strategies for food-insecure people, specifically middle-aged women.

SUBMITTER: Pound CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7864695 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Female sex and food insecurity in relation to self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults: a cross-sectional study using national survey data.

Pound Catherine M CM Chen Yue Y

CMAJ open 20210129 1

<h4>Background</h4>Women with food insecurity are at higher risk for mental health disorders. This study examined the joint effect of female sex and food insecurity on self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults.<h4>Methods</h4>The analysis was based on data from adults (age ≥ 18 yr) who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2015-2016. We determined past-year food security level (secure, moderately insecure or severely insecure) based on 18 questions. We use ...[more]

PMID: 33514600

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundFood insecurity, as an indicator of socioeconomic disadvantages and a determinant of health, may be associated with injury by increasing risk exposure and hampering risk mitigation. We examined the association between food insecurity and common causes of injury in the general population.MethodsLinking the Canadian Community Health Survey 2005-2017 to National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2003-2017, this retrospective cohort study estimated incidence of injury-related emergency department (ED) visits by food insecurity status among 212,300 individuals 12 years and above in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta, adjusting for prior ED visits, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics including income.ResultsCompared to those in food-secure households, individuals from moderately and severely food-insecure households had 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.25) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.24-1.48) times higher incidence rate of ED visits due to injury, respectively, after confounders adjustment. The association was observed across sex and age groups. Severe food insecurity was associated with intentional injuries (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 1.81; 95% CI 1.29-2.53) including self-harm (aRR 1.87; 95% CI 1.03-3.40) and violence (aRR 1.79; 95% CI 1.19-2.67) as well as non-intentional injuries (aRR 1.34; 95% CI 1.22-1.46) including fall (aRR 1.43; 95% CI 1.24-1.65), medical complication (aRR 1.39; 95% CI 1.06-1.82), being struck by objects (aRR 1.43; 95% CI 1.07-1.91), overexertion (aRR 1.31; 95% CI 1.04-1.66), animal bite or sting (aRR 1.60; 95% CI 1.08-2.36), skin piercing (aRR 1.80; 95% CI 1.21-2.66), and poisoning (aRR 1.65; 95% CI 1.05-2.59). Moderate food insecurity was associated with more injuries from violence (aRR 1.56; 95% CI 1.09-2.21), falls (aRR 1.22; 95% CI 1.08-1.37), being struck (aRR 1.20; 95% CI 1.01-1.43), and overexertion (aRR 1.25; 95% CI 1.04-1.50). Moderate and severe food insecurity were associated with falls on stairs and being struck in non-sports settings but not with falls on same level or being struck during sports. Food insecurity was not related to transport injuries.ConclusionsHealth inequity by food insecurity status extends beyond diseases into differential risk of injury, warranting policy intervention. Researchers and policymakers need to address food insecurity as a social determinant of injury to improve health equity.

Dataset Information

Female sex and food insecurity in relation to self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults: a cross-sectional study using national survey data.

Background

Methods

Results

Interpretation

Publications

Female sex and food insecurity in relation to self-reported poor or fair mental health in Canadian adults: a cross-sectional study using national survey data.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure