Elsevier

SSM - Population Health

Volume 3, December 2017, Pages 464-472
SSM - Population Health

Article
The household food insecurity gradient and potential reductions in adverse population mental health outcomes in Canadian adults

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.05.013Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • This study uses a four-level food insecurity variable of increasing severity.

  • Findings show a food insecurity gradient on six adverse mental health outcomes.

  • Severe food insecurity is related to high odds of reporting mental health outcomes.

  • Eliminating severe food insecurity could reduce mental ill-health burden.

Abstract

Purpose

Household food insecurity is related to poor mental health. This study examines whether the level of household food insecurity is associated with a gradient in the risk of reporting six adverse mental health outcomes. This study further quantifies the mental health impact if severe food insecurity, the extreme of the risk continuum, were eliminated in Canada.

Methods

Using a pooled sample of the Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 302,683), we examined the relationship between level of food insecurity, in adults 18–64 years, and reporting six adverse mental health outcomes. We conducted a probit analysis adjusted for multi-variable models, to calculate the reduction in the odds of reporting mental health outcomes that might accrue from the elimination of severe food insecurity.

Results

Controlling for various demographic and socioeconomic covariates, a food insecurity gradient was found in six mental health outcomes. We calculated that a decrease between 8.1% and 16.0% in the reporting of these mental health outcomes would accrue if those who are currently severely food insecure became food secure, after controlling for covariates.

Conclusion

Household food insecurity has a pervasive graded negative effect on a variety of mental health outcomes, in which significantly higher levels of food insecurity are associated with a higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Reduction of food insecurity, particularly at the severe level, is a public health concern and a modifiable structural determinant of health worthy of macro-level policy intervention.

Keywords

Food insecurity
Mental health
Chronic stress
Canadian adults

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