Household food insecurity is associated with depressive symptoms: results from a Mexican population-based survey

Depressive symptoms among adults is associated with decreased food security

OBJECTIVE

We aim to evaluate the association of depressive symptoms, depressive symptoms severity and symptom cluster scores (i.e., cognitive-affective and somatic) with food security (FS). We will also evaluate the interaction effect of sex, income and ethnicity on these associations.

METHODS

Data from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles were used in this study. Participants included survey respondents 20+ years who had completed Depression and Food Security questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between depressive symptoms and FS.

RESULTS

A total of 34,128 participants, including 3,021 (7.73%) with depressive symptoms, were included in this study. In both unadjusted and adjusted models, participants with depressive symptoms had lower odds of FS (aOR = 0.347, 95% CI: 0.307,0.391, p<0.001). Moreover, in both unadjusted and adjusted models, for each 1-point increase in cognitive-affective (aOR = 0.850, 95% CI = 0.836,0.864, p <0.001) and somatic symptoms (aOR = 0.847, 95% CI = 0.831,0.863, p <0.001), odds of high FS decreased correspondingly. Our study found no significant interaction effects of sex on depressive symptoms-FS association. Statistically significant interactions of ethnicity and poverty-to-income ratio on depressive symptoms-FS association were observed, revealing higher odds of FS among Non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American groups, and lower odds of FS in Non-Hispanic White and high-income subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated an association between depressive symptoms and decreased FS. Further research is required to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to develop focused interventions.

Increasing Access to Medical Care for Hispanic Women Without Insurance: A Mobile Clinic Approach

The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and barriers of people who sought care on a free mobile health clinic for women without insurance in California. Participants were 221 women who attended the Salud para Mujeres (Women's Health) mobile medical clinic between 2019 and 2021. Medical chart abstractions provided data on sociodemographic factors, medical history, barriers to care, depressive symptoms, and dietary factors. Anthropometric measure, blood pressure, and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk were also abstracted. Participants were young adult (29.1 [SD 9.3] years), Hispanic (97.6%), farm-working (62.2%) women from Mexico (87.0%). Prevalent barriers to accessing (non-mobile) medical care included high cost (74.5%), language (47.6%), hours of operation (36.2%), and transportation (31.4%). The majority (89.5%) of patients had overweight (34.0%) or obesity (55.5%), and 27% had hypertension. Among those (n = 127) receiving a lipid panel, 60.3% had higher than recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein and 89% had lower than recommended levels of high-density lipoprotein. Point-of-care HbA1c tests (n = 133) indicated that 9.0% had diabetes and 24.8% had prediabetes. Over half (53.1%) of patients reported prevalent occupational exposure to pesticides and 19% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Weekly or more frequent consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (70.9%) and fast food (43.5%) were also prevalent. Mobile health units have potential for reaching women who face several barriers to care and experience major risk factors for cardometabolic disease. Findings suggest a compelling need to assure that Hispanic and Indigenous women and farmworkers have access to healthcare.

Food insecurity and associated health and social determinants among older adults in Ghana: Analysis of the WHO's study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), 2014-2015

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Food Insecurity (FI) and further quantify its association with unmet need for health services and health-related outcomes among older adults aged 50 years and above in Ghana. The Ghana Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health was used. Body Mass Index (BMI), depressive episodes, functional difficulties (FD), low Quality of Life (QoL), memory decline, and Unmet Needs of Health Services (UNHS) are the the study outcomes. Ordinary Least Square, and Poisson regression analysis modified with Mahalanobis distance matching within propensity score caliper weights were employed. Stata 16.1 was used to perform analysis and a p-value < 0.05 was deemed significant. The prevalence of FI among older adults aged 50 years or older in Ghana was approximately 28 %(95 %CI = 24.5-31.7) and was strongly associated with lower educational attainment and social support. The prevalence ratio of depression, FD, low QoL and UNHS among older adults who experienced FI were; 3.43(95 %CI = 2.25-5.21), 1.18(95 %CI = 1.12-1.23), 2.01(95 %CI = 1.54-2.62), and 1.46(95 %CI = 1.01-2.11). Memory significantly decreased by 85 percentage points% among food insecure older adults [aβ(95 %CI) = -0.85(-1.62--0.07)]. Older adults with relatively higher educational attainment and social support are less likely to suffer FI and associated limited health and poor social well-being. In the national quest to achieve SDG 2, these health and social determinants of FI among older adults should be considered in the implementation of the national ageing policy to improve the health and well-being of older adults in Ghana.

Associations between food insecurity and Sleep Duration, Quality, and Disturbance among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries

OBJECTIVES

Although food insecurity has been associated with poor sleep outcomes in young and middle-aged adults, few studies have examined this relationship in older adults. This study aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity and sleep duration, quality, and disturbance among older adults in six low-income countries (LMICs).

DESIGN AND SETTING

We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data from 33,460 adults (≥50 years) from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE).

MEASUREMENTS

Food insecurity (FI) was assessed using two questions regarding the frequency of eating less and hunger caused by a lack of food. Sleep outcomes included self-reported sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, frequent sleep interruptions, and early awakening) assessed based on self-reports over two nights. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess country-specific relationships between food insecurity and sleep outcomes, and random-effects models were used to estimate pooled associations.

RESULTS

The prevalence of FI among older adults in the overall population was 16.2%. In pooled analyses, FI was significantly associated with long sleep duration ≥ 9 h (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.93; P=0.001). There were also significant pooled associations between FI and poor sleep quality (OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.56; P < 0.001) and sleep disturbances (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.91; P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the current study found that FI is adversely associated with sleep duration, quality and disturbances in older adults, with some heterogeneity by country. The findings suggest food policies and intervention programs are needed for vulnerable households.

Association between food insecurity and quality of life among older adults (60+) in six low and middle-income countries

Food insecurity is a key social determinant of health and nutrition. However, very few studies have examined the association of food insecurity and quality of life outcomes among older adults in low and middle-income settings. In this study, we examine the association of food insecurity with self-rated poor quality of life, low life satisfaction, and WHO quality of life (WHOQol). Nationally representative data from WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) consisting of 20,026 older adults were analyzed. The association of food insecurity with self-rated poor quality of life and low life satisfaction was assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Multivariate linear regression models examine the association between food insecurity and WHOQol score. Pooled data analysis of six countries showed older adults with severe food insecurity were two times more likely to report poor quality of life (OR = 2.49, CI 2.10, 2.96; p < 0.001) and low life satisfaction (OR = 2.36, CI 1.94, 2.87; p < 0.001), respectively. Similarly, older adults with severe food insecurity had 3.60 (CI-4.25, -2.95; p < 0.001) points lower WHO-QoL score than those who are food secure. These results show that the association of food insecurity is statistically significant with all three outcomes of quality of life in all six countries adjusting for sociodemographic and health measures. Public health and social security interventions are important to prevent food insecurity to promote overall wellbeing of the growing older population in low and middle-income countries.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Association Between Food Security and Depressive Symptoms Among Adult Foreign-Born Immigrants in the US: A Cross-Sectional Study

Foreign-born immigrants are at greater risks of both food insecurity and depressive symptoms, while the association between the two has yet to be elucidated. Our sample includes 6,857 adults aged 20 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine whether the association between food security and depressive symptoms varies across race/ethnicity among US foreign-born immigrants. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 9.6% and 15.7% for low food security (LFS) and very low food security (VLFS). The adjust odds ratios (aORs) of depressive symptoms among Mexican American and Other Hispanic immigrants with VLFS were 2.66 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.61, 4.38) and 2.05 (95% CI: 1.08, 3.86) as compared to those with full food security (FFS). Race/ethnicity may modify the association between food security and depressive symptoms among US foreign-born immigrants and a dose-response relationship was indicated among Hispanic and Other Race immigrants.

Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

Background

Food insecurity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting an estimated 260 million people. However, little evidence is available on how pandemic-related characteristics influence food security in a high-altitude population. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with food insecurity in high-altitude Peruvian cities during the second epidemic wave of COVID-19.

Methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in eight Peruvian cities over 1,500 m above sea level. An online survey measuring food security, presence of anxiety & depressive symptoms, sleep quality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience, and sociodemographic characteristics was disseminated through social networks between December 2020 and February 2021. Generalized linear models were used to identify an association between the study variables.

Results

Of 700 participants, the median age was 23 years, and more than half were female (56.7%). The prevalence of food insecurity was 37.1%. Anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and PTSD were present in 72.7%, 64.1%, and 15% of respondents, respectively. The prevalence of food insecurity was higher in people with fair (PR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.23–2.07) and very bad perception of their health (PR: 4.06, 95% CI: 2.63–6.26), individuals seeking mental health support (PR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.25–1.62), and in those who lost their job due to the pandemic (PR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.62–2.04). Having moderate (PR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.26–1.83) and moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.11–2.27) also increased the prevalence of food insecurity.

Conclusion

During the pandemic, the prevalence of food insecurity has increased in the Peruvian high-altitude population, revealing the need for preventive strategies. Identification of pandemic-related characteristics that influence food insecurity can guide interventions in at-risk individuals and reduce the long-term impact of this problem on overall health and quality of life.

Financial Wellbeing and Quality of Life Among a Sample of the Lebanese Population: The Mediating Effect of Food Insecurity

Background

Lebanon is undergoing multiple overlapping crises, affecting the food security, financial well-being, and quality of life (QOL) of its residents.

Objective

The primary objective was to assess the food insecurity (FI) status of a sample of the Lebanese population. The second objective was to explore factors related to QOL parameters and evaluate the mediating effect of food security between financial well-being and QOL.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional and enrolled 412 participants recruited online using the snowball sampling technique. The survey included questions related to sociodemographic and economic characteristics of Lebanese households and validated scales to assess FI, QOL measures, financial well-being, and fear of COVID-19.

Results

Almost 43% of the study participants reported being food insecure, with 31% experiencing mild FI, 10% moderate FI, and 1.5% severe FI. Compared to food-insecure participants, food secure participants had a significantly higher income (58.5% vs. 39.2%, p < 0.001), a university education level (96.6% vs. 88.1%, p = 0.002), an average perceived financial status (83.9% vs. 65.9%), higher financial well-being scores (5.14 vs. 3.19, p < 0.001), and lower crowding index (0.94 ± 0.4 vs. 1.09, p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that FI was not associated with physical (Beta = −1.48, 95% CI: −3.10; 0.13) and mental (Beta = −1.46, 95% CI −3.68; 0.75) QOL, after adjusting for other demographic and socioeconomic correlates. This association remained non-significant when introducing the financial well-being variable to the model. Mediation analyses showed that the FI variable mediated the association between financial well-being and physical QOL (Beta = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.02; 0.36), but not the mental QOL (Beta = −0.02, 95% CI: −0.20; 0.14).

Conclusion

Food insecurity was prevalent in our study sample, and it mediated the association between financial well-being and physical, but not mental, QOL parameters. These findings call for evidence-based policies and programs to help improve the food security and well-being of Lebanese households amidst these unprecedented circumstances.

Unravelling the Paradoxical Seasonal Food Scarcity in a Peasant Microregion of Mexico

Seasonal food scarcity during pre-harvest months is, widely, considered to be the principal manifestation of food insecurity, for some 600 million members of smallholder families, who rely on a variety of coping strategies. This paper analyses both the peasant-economy variables that explain the presence and intensity of seasonal food scarcity, and the coping strategies of 120 rural households in a microregion of southern Mexico. We, also, examine how supply networks for six archetypical foods of the peasant diet express robustness or vulnerability during seasons of abundance and scarcity. The method combines surveys, ethnographic fieldwork, statistical models and social network analyses. Results show that 74% of households experience at least one month of food scarcity annually, and 34% of shortages last more than six months. In total, 29% of affected households gather wild foods, and 14% use intense coping strategies, such as international migration, taking out rural loans, and parental food buffering. During scarce seasons, self-sufficiency networks for maize and beans contract, but still maintain the food supply of peasant households, while cash-consumption networks such as those of beef become accessible only to a small sector of economically differentiated households. In contrast to the vast majority of research, which simply reports the presence of seasonal food shortages and describes the coping strategies of rural households, this paper provides an in-depth analysis—based upon a novel methodological integration—of the socioeconomic, agrifood, and land tenure conditions that may determine why many peasant territories in the Global South face the “farmer–food-scarcity paradox”.

Food worry and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

There is limited and inconsistent literature examining the relationship between food worry and mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the association between food worry and mental health among community dwelling Canadian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Adults age 16 years and older completed an anonymous online questionnaire between April 1, 2020 and November 30 2020. Measures of pre-pandemic and current food worry, depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), and sociodemographic variables were included. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association between food worry and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Results

In total, 1605 participants were included in analyses. Worry about affording food was reported by 320 (14.78%) participants. In models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, compared with people without food worry, participants who had food worry were 2.07 times more likely to report anxiety symptoms (aOR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.43 – 2.98, p < .001) and were 1.9 times more likely to report depressive symptoms (aOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.39–2.57, p < .0001). Lower income, lower education, and pre-existing mental health conditions were significant predictors of symptoms of depression. Female gender, younger age, lower education, lower income, and pre-existing mental health condition were significant predictors of anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the relationship between food worry and poor mental health. Policy supports such as improved income supports, clinical implications such as screening for food worry in primary care, referral to emergency food programs and support with meal planning may help mitigate mental health symptoms during the current pandemic, during future societal recovery from this pandemic and during future pandemics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13410-7.

Associations Between Food Insecurity and Common Mental Health Problems Among Reproductive-Aged Women in Kabul-Afghanistan

Background: Food insecurity has been linked to poor health outcomes, however this relationship is poorly understood among women of reproductive age. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between food insecurity and common mental health problems (CMHPs) in this population of women in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 421 women of reproductive age from four health centers located in four randomly selected zones in the city of Kabul. We used the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) food-insecurity questionnaire, multiple 24-h recall for dietary intake, the Depression, the Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess major mental health problems, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess physical activity.

Result: Food insecurity affected 69.6% of reproductive-aged women. In total, 44.9, 10.9, and 13.9% of food-insecure participants had food insecurity without hunger, food insecurity with hunger, and food insecurity with severe hunger, respectively. Depression, anxiety, and stress were prevalent among food-insecure participants at 89.4, 90.8, and 85.7%, respectively. Food insecurity was associated with depression (OR = 4.9, 95% CI: 2.7–8.9), anxiety (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 2.5–8.8), and stress (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 2.2–6.7). Women's household ownership, family size, and hypertension, on the other hand, were not associated with food insecurity.

Conclusion: This study found food insecurity was associated with CMHPs among a sample of reproductive-aged women in Kabul, Afghanistan. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Knowledge and Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in People With Severe Mental Illness in Bangladesh and Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

People with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) are likely to face disproportionate challenges during a pandemic. They may not receive or be able to respond to public health messages to prevent infection or to limit its spread. Additionally, they may be more severely affected, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

We conducted a telephone survey (May-June 2020) in a sample of 1,299 people with SMI who had attended national mental health institutes in Bangladesh and Pakistan before the pandemic. We collected information on top worries, socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, knowledge of COVID-19 (symptoms, prevention), and prevention-related practices (social distancing, hygiene). We explored the predictive value of socio-demographic and health-related variables for relative levels of COVID-19 knowledge and practice using regularized logistic regression models.

FINDINGS

Mass media were the major source of information about COVID-19. Finances, employment, and physical health were the most frequently mentioned concerns. Overall, participants reported good knowledge and following advice. In Bangladesh, being female and higher levels of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) predicted poor and better knowledge, respectively, while in Pakistan being female predicted better knowledge. Receiving information from television predicted better knowledge in both countries. In Bangladesh, being female, accessing information from multiple media sources, and better HRQoL predicted better practice. In Pakistan, poorer knowledge of COVID-19 prevention measures predicted poorer practice.

CONCLUSION

Our paper adds to the literature on people living with SMIs and their knowledge and practices relevant to COVID-19 prevention. Our results emphasize the importance of access to mass and social media for the dissemination of advice and that the likely gendered uptake of both knowledge and practice requires further attention.

Association of Household Food Insecurity with Nutritional Status and Mental Health of Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh

Food insecurity may affect women’s health; however, pertinent research is scant among pregnant women. This study investigated the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with the nutritional status and mental health of 672 early-gestation (5–16 weeks) pregnant women with a singleton fetus, who participated in the screening activity of a community-based trial (NCT04868669) in Matlab, Bangladesh. Height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m²), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (cm), depression, anxiety, and stress were the outcomes studied. HFI was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Women’s depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21. Propensity score matching based weighted multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate the independent association of HFI with the outcomes. In adjusted models, pregnant women from food-insecure households in rural Matlab were on average 2.0 cm shorter (β = −2.0, 95% CI: −3.3, −0.7), 2.0 kg lighter (β = −2.0, 95% CI: −3.4, −0.7), and had 0.6 cm lower MUAC (β = −0.6, 95% CI: −1.1, −0.1) than their food-secure counterparts. HFI was associated with higher odds of depression (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.9), anxiety (OR = 6.1, 95% CI: 3.7, 10.0), and stress (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 14.2) among the women. Public health measures should focus on ensuring proper nutrition during the critical growth periods of life, pregnancy, and external environmental shocks, to mitigate the adverse effects of HFI on women’s health.

Factors Associated with Financial Security, Food Security and Quality of Daily Lives of Residents in Nigeria during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

An online survey was conducted to identify factors associated with financial insecurity, food insecurity and poor quality of daily lives of adults in Nigeria during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The associations between the outcome (experience of financial loss, changes in food intake and impact of the pandemic on daily lives) and the explanatory (age, sex, education level, anxiety, depression, HIV status) variables were determined using logistic regression analysis. Of the 4439 respondents, 2487 (56.0%) were financially insecure, 907 (20.4%) decreased food intake and 4029 (90.8%) had their daily life negatively impacted. Males (AOR:0.84), people who felt depressed (AOR:0.62) and people living with HIV -PLHIV- (AOR:0.70) had significantly lower odds of financial insecurity. Older respondents (AOR:1.01) had significantly higher odds of financial insecurity. Those depressed (AOR:0.62) and PLHIV (AOR:0.55) had significantly lower odds of reporting decreased food intake. Respondents who felt anxious (AOR:0.07), depressed (AOR: 0.48) and who were PLHIV (AOR:0.68) had significantly lower odds of reporting a negative impact of the pandemic on their daily lives. We concluded the study findings may reflect a complex relationship between financial insecurity, food insecurity, poor quality of life, mental health, and socioeconomic status of adults living in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food Insecurity and its Impact on Body Weight, Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Mental Health

Purpose of Review

Food insecurity (FI) is a serious public health issue affecting 2 billion people worldwide. FI is associated with increased risk for multiple chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health. We selected these four chronic diseases given their global prevalence and comorbid associations with each other. We evaluated the most recent literature published over the past 5 years and offer strategies for the screening of FI.

Recent Findings

Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses report an association between FI and obesity in adult women as well as adult men and women living in low- and middle-income countries. Gender differences also were observed between FI and type 2 diabetes, such that adult women showed an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. This association was influenced by social determinants of health. Very low food security (i.e., high FI) was associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and a higher risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. Finally, several studies showed an association between FI and adverse mental health outcomes, including increased risk for stress, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and suicidal ideation.

Summary

FI and its negative association with body weight, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health provide a compelling rationale for identification of FI in clinical settings. Brief, well-validated screening measures are available in multiple languages. Despite the need for FI screening, many guidelines do not address its implementation. For this reason, more research and targeted interventions are needed to increase FI screening rates and close the loop in the coordination of resources.

Association between food insecurity and depression among older adults from low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

To examine the association between self-reported food insecurity and depression in 34,129 individuals aged ≥50 years from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa).

METHODS

Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. Self-reported past 12-month food insecurity was assessed with two questions on frequency of eating less and hunger due to lack of food. Questions based on the World Mental Health Survey version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview were used for the endorsement of past 12-month DSM-IV depression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis were conducted to assess associations.

RESULTS

In total, 34,129 individuals aged ≥50 years [mean (SD) age, 62.4 (16.0) years; 52.1% females] were included in the analysis. Overall, the prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity was 6.7% and 5.1%, respectively, while the prevalence of depression was 6.0%. Meta-analyses based on countrywise estimates showed that overall, moderate food insecurity (vs. no food insecurity) is associated with a nonsignificant 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82-3.48) times higher odds for depression, while severe food insecurity is significantly associated with 2.43 (95% CI = 1.65-3.57) times higher odds for depression.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large representative sample of older adults from six LMICs, those with severe food insecurity were over two times more likely to suffer from depression (compared with no food insecurity). Utilizing lay health counselors and psychological interventions may be effective mechanisms to reduce depression among food-insecure populations. Interventions to address food insecurity (e.g., supplemental nutrition programs) may reduce depression at the population level but future longitudinal studies are warranted.

The Relationship between Food Security Status and Sleep Disturbance among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Indonesian Population

Background: The relationship between food insecurity and the experience of sleep disturbance has received little attention among researchers, although food insecurity is associated with poor physical and mental health globally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food security status and sleep disturbance among adults 20–64 years old. Methods: The study’s population-based sample included 20,212 Indonesian adults who participated in the fifth wave of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS5) in 2014. Dietary intake data, gathered using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), were used to assess the food security status. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire. We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to test the study hypothesis. Results: A higher likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people aged older than 56 years (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.17–2.72, p = 0.007), people with depressive symptoms (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.77–4.61, p < 0.001), and food-insecure people (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70, p = 0.036). A lower likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people with low educational attainment (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30–0.57, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance was dependent on the food consumption groups and food security status among men (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Sleep disturbance may be affected by the food-insecure status of adults, and later, may lead to serious health outcomes.