Dataset Information

The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among low-income Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a survey of 2714 low-income respondents nationwide from June 29, 2020 to July 21, 2020. A proportional odds logit model was employed to estimate the associations between food insecurity and anxiety and between food insecurity and depression.

Results

Food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxiety and a 253% higher risk of depression. Losing a job during the pandemic is associated with a 32% increase in risk for anxiety and a 27% increase in risk for depression.

Conclusions

Food insecurity caused by the pandemic was associated with increased risk of mental illness. The relative risk of mental illness from being food insecure is almost three-fold that of losing a job during the pandemic. Public health measures should focus on getting direct subsidies of food purchases to poor families, especially families with children. They should also reduce the stigma and shame that is associated with accepting charitable foods.

SUBMITTER: Fang D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8006138 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fang Di D Thomsen Michael R MR Nayga Rodolfo M RM

BMC public health 20210329 1

<h4>Objective</h4>To explore the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among low-income Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a survey of 2714 low-income respondents nationwide from June 29, 2020 to July 21, 2020. A proportional odds logit model was employed to estimate the associations between food insecurity and anxiety and between food insecurity and depression.<h4>Results</h4>Food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxie ...[more]

PMID: 33781232

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThis study examines the association between food insecurity and mental health of women during the COVID-19 pandemic in a resource poor setting.Materials and methodsData were collected at two time-points (wave 1 and 2) from 2402 women, one per household, participating in a larger study during extended COVID-19 lockdown in the rural areas of the southwest region of Bangladesh. The primary outcome of the analyses is the association between food insecurity, measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and stress level, measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), for women during the lockdown. General awareness about COVID-19 and attitude towards prescribed preventive measures were also measured since COVID-19 health concerns could exacerbate food insecurity.ResultsAn individual-level evaluation of the effect of wave 2 FIES score on PSS score showed that worsening of the food security status increasing the stress level of the participants (95% CI: 1.61; 2.13; p-value: <0.001). Additionally, a significant negative association was observed between the PSS score and change in food security status between the two waves (Coefficient: -1.15, 95% CI: -1.30; -0.99, p-value: <0.001), indicating that deterioration in food security status over the pandemic period increasing the stress level. At the village level, the results showed a similar pattern. General awareness around ways coronavirus spreads was high, yet there were misperceptions at a higher level. Maintaining hand hygiene, wearing face masks outside the home, and going outside only when necessary were widely practised. Fewer respondents could maintain a 1.5-metre distance from others in the outside and maintained cough and sneeze etiquette.ConclusionThe results indicate a higher stress level, a potential contributor to poor mental health, as food insecurity deteriorated. Policy initiatives in ameliorating immediate food insecurity during crises, improving long-term wellbeing, and expanding the reach of mental health support are warranted.

Dataset Information

The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets