Food insufficiency and mental health service utilisation in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the association between food insufficiency and mental health service utilisation in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Cross-sectional study. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between food insufficiency and mental health service utilisation.

Setting

US Census Household Pulse Survey data collected in October 2020.

Participants

Nationally representative sample of 68 611 US adults.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, experiencing food insufficiency was associated with higher odds of unmet mental health need (adjusted OR (AOR) 2·90; 95 % CI 2·46, 3·43), receiving mental health counselling or therapy (AOR 1·51; 95 % CI 1·24, 1·83) and psychotropic medication use (AOR 1·

SUBMITTER: Nagata JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8367866 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature