Food Insecurity With Hunger and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents From 53 Countries

Food Insecurity and Sleep-Related Problems in Adolescents: Findings from the EHDLA Study

PURPOSE

The current research aimed to investigate the connection between food insecurity and sleep issues among Spanish adolescents aged from 12 to 17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain).

METHODS

Data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities Study, which included a sample of 836 adolescents (55.3% girls), were analyzed. Food insecurity was evaluated using the Child Food Security Survey Module in Spanish (CFSSM-S), while sleep-related problems were evaluated using the Bedtime problems, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity and duration of sleep, and Sleep-disordered breathing (BEARS) sleep screening tool. Generalized linear models were employed to explore the association between food insecurity and sleep-related issues.

RESULTS

Compared with their counterparts with food security, adolescents with food insecurity had greater probabilities of bedtime problems (24.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.9% to 33.0%, p = 0.003), excessive daytime sleepiness (36.4%, 95% CI 27.5% to 46.3%, p < 0.001), awakenings during the night (16.7%, 95% CI 10.8% to 25.1%, p = 0.004), and any sleep-related problems (68.1%, 95% CI 57.5% to 77.1%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that food insecurity is related to greater sleep-related problems among adolescents. Implementing strategies to mitigate food insecurity may contribute to improved sleep health among adolescents, highlighting the importance of integrated public health interventions.

Temporal Trends in Food Insecurity (Hunger) among School-Going Adolescents from 31 Countries from Africa, Asia, and the Americas

(1) Background: Temporal trends of food insecurity among adolescents are largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to examine this trend among school-going adolescents aged 12-15 years from 31 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. (2) Methods: Data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003-2017 were analyzed in 193,388 students [mean (SD) age: 13.7 (1.0) years; 49.0% boys]. The prevalence and 95%CI of moderate (rarely/sometimes hungry), severe (most of the time/always hungry), and any (moderate or severe) food insecurity (past 30-day) was calculated for each survey. Crude linear trends in food insecurity were assessed by linear regression models. (3) Results: The mean prevalence of any food insecurity was 52.2% (moderate 46.5%; severe 5.7%). Significant increasing and decreasing trends of any food insecurity were found in seven countries each. A sizeable decrease and increase were observed in Benin (71.2% in 2009 to 49.2% in 2016) and Mauritius (25.0% in 2011 to 43.6% in 2017), respectively. Severe food insecurity increased in countries such as Vanuatu (4.9% in 2011 to 8.4% in 2016) and Mauritius (3.5% in 2011 to 8.2% in 2017). The rate of decrease was modest in most countries with a significant decreasing trend, while many countries with stable trends showed consistently high prevalence of food insecurity. (4) Conclusion: Global action is urgently required to address food insecurity among adolescents, as our data show that achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 would be difficult without strong global commitment.

Association of food insecurity and sleep difficulty among 189,619 school-going adolescents: a study from the global in-school students survey

Introduction

Adolescents' sleep disturbances are associated with chronic and dramatic physical, emotional, and mental development and school performance consequences. Although food insecurity could significantly contribute to these effects, few studies have explored the effect of food insecurity on sleep disturbances among adolescents. The study aimed to examine the relationship between adolescents' food insecurity and sleep disturbance.

Methods

Data on 189,619 adolescents were drawn from the cross-sectional global adolescent health surveys conducted between 2015 and 2018 in 35 countries and territories. Univariate and multivariable multinomial regression models were fitted to examine the hypothesized associations.

Results

Overall pooled prevalence of moderate [45.2% (95%CI = 43-47)] and severe [5.8% (95%CI = 5-6)] food insecurity levels were reported. About [52.6% (95%CI = 51-54)] moderate and [8.6% (95%CI = 8-9)] severe worry-induced sleep disturbances were found. Considering the fully adjusted multinomial logistic model, moderate food insecurity was significantly associated with moderate (AOR = 1.70 CI = 1.59-1.81; p < 0.0001) and severe (AOR = 1.63 CI = 1.42-1.87; p < 0.0001) sleep disturbances. Also, adolescents reporting severe levels of food insecurity had moderate (AOR = 1.88 CI = 1.68-2.11; p < 0.0001) and severe (AOR = 4.07 CI = 4.74-6.11; p < 0.0001) sleep disturbances. Females and those aged between 15 and 17 years and 18 or more were at higher risk of moderate and severe sleep disturbances in the context of food insecurity.

Conclusion

Reducing food insecurity could be an effective policy strategy for enhancing adolescent sleep quality.

Food Insecurity: A Barrier to Reproductive Justice Globally

Objective: Reproductive Justice identifies three core reproductive rights for all people: (1) the right to not have a child; (2) the right to have a child; and (3) the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. We aim to illustrate that food insecurity infringes upon on all three of these rights and so is a pressing issue for reproductive justice and for sexual and reproductive health more broadly. Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, we outline potential pathways between food insecurity and reproductive justice. Results: There are numerous potential pathways between food insecurity and reproductive justice, including entry into sexual relationships for material support, links to sexually transmitted infections and infertility, structural violence, prioritization and spending tradeoffs between food and other basic necessities, biological impacts of malnutrition, restricted reproductive choices, population control measures, and social stigma and exclusion. Marginalized people are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and its consequences, with implications for sexual health and pleasure and for reproductive justice. Conclusions:Meaningful and equitable collaboration between people with lived experience of food insecurity, human rights and reproductive justice activists, and academics is critical to sensitively contextualize this work and mobilize broader social change.

Food insecurity is associated with multiple psychological and behavioural problems among adolescents in five Caribbean countries

The study aimed to assess associations between food insecurity and multiple psychological and behavioural problems among adolescents in five Caribbean countries. Data from national and cross-sectional school health surveys from 9,956 adolescents (15 years, median age) in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, Anguilla and the Dominican Republic in 2016-2017 were analyzed in 2016-2017. Results show that the prevalence of moderate (rarely or sometimes) past-month food insecurity was 35.9% and severe (mostly or always) food insecurity was 4.6%. Severe food insecurity among adolescents ranged from 2.9% in Dominican Republic to 11.2% in Suriname. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, the higher severity of food insecurity was associated with negative psychological outcomes (loneliness, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, anxiety, current tobacco use and any trouble from alcohol use) and negative behavioural outcomes (truancy, bullied, physically attacked, physical injury, and multiple sexual partners). Two out of five adolescents experienced some form of food security. Food interventions, such as school feeding programmes, are warranted to reduce negative psychosocial outcomes.

Food Insecurity among Adolescent Students from 95 Countries Is Associated with Diet, Behavior, and Health, and Associations Differ by Student Age and Sex

Background

Adolescents' developmental tasks and challenges vary based on age, sex, and social context. Food insecurity affects adolescents, but existing research has been limited to a few country contexts and has treated adolescence as a singular developmental moment with limited consideration of potential differences in how food insecurity relates to developmental experiences based on adolescent age and sex.

Objectives

We aimed to describe relations between student-reported food insecurity and students' profiles of nutritional, physical activity, school absenteeism, health/mental health, and victimization experiences, and how these differ by student age and sex.

Methods

Using cross-sectional data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey, we examined adolescent reports of their food security among 337,738 students 11-18 y old from 95 countries. We identified their profiles of focal experiences, and used mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to examine differences in these profiles by student food insecurity and how these differ by student age and sex.

Results

Of students, 25.5% aged 11-14 y compared with 30% aged 15-18 y reported food insecurity in the past 30 d. Food insecurity was associated with less frequent fruit and vegetable intake; more frequent soft drink intake; worse mental health; less physical activity; more missed school; higher odds of smoking, drinking, and using drugs; and more bullying victimization and sexual partners. Food insecurity was associated with reduced age- and sex-specific protection: greater substance use among younger adolescents, more sexual partners among older females, and greater worry among younger males. Food insecurity was also associated with increased age-specific risk: greater soft drink consumption among younger adolescents.

Conclusions

Across countries, adolescent food insecurity was associated with poorer nutritional, mental health, behavioral, and relationship profiles; these associations differed with student age and sex. Food insecurity interventions should attend to adolescent developmental stage and the gendered contexts through which adolescents navigate daily life.

Do Global Adolescents With Food Insecurity Feel Lonely?

As a proxy measure of socioeconomic status, food insecurity is understudied in mental health-related research. This study aimed to explore the association between food insecurity and loneliness in adolescents. Using cross-sectional data from the Global Student Health Survey (GSHS), 164,993 adolescent participants were included in this study. Food insecurity, loneliness, and other covariates were assessed by self-reported questionnaire. Multivariable logistics regression considering complex survey was used to explore the association between food insecurity and loneliness. The prevalence of loneliness was 10.8% in adolescents. With higher levels of food insecurity, the prevalence of loneliness in general increased, but “most of the time” was the most frequently reported item in terms of food insecurity. Adolescents who reported severe food insecurity had significantly greater odds for loneliness: (1) being most of the time [odd ratio (OR) = 2.54, 95% CI = 2.13–3.02]; (2) always hungry (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.55–2.51). Of all the 53 countries, adolescents from 39 countries reported significantly higher prevalence of loneliness when exposed to food insecurity. The pooled OR was 1.74 (1.60–1.89) with a negligible heterogeneity (higher I-squared was 34.2%). Adolescents with food insecurity were more likely to be exposed to be lonely. Eliminating socioeconomic disparities in adolescents might be a good approach to promote mental health in adolescents. Future studies are encouraged to utilize longitudinal studies to confirm or negate our study findings.

Food Insecurity and Sleep Disturbance Among 223,561 Adolescents: A Multi-Country Analysis of Cross-Sectional Surveys

This study was to investigate the association between food insecurity (FI) and sleep disturbance among adolescents. Based on the cross-sectional data of the Global School-based Student Health Survey, this study analyzed self-reported data from adolescents in 68 countries. Multivariate logistic regression and meta-analysis were used to evaluate the association between FI and sleep disturbance. The final sample included 223,561 adolescents. The prevalence of severe FI and sleep disturbance was 6.4% and 8.0%, respectively. Severe FI was significantly associated with a higher risk of sleep disturbance in 48 of the 68 countries after adjusting for covariates, with a pooled OR (95% CI) of 1.94 (1.79-2.09). Overall, the association between FI and sleep disturbance was similar across countries and gender, though a large level of heterogeneity existed across upper- and middle-income countries. Identifying adolescents suffering from FI and remedying the FI severity may be important to improve sleep quality in global adolescents.