2074.0 - Food Insecurity and Mental Distress among Latinas of Childbearing Age at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
Session: Social, Cultural, and Political Factors Affecting Food and Nutrition: Mental Health
Author: Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
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Abstract
Introduction
People with pre-diabetes and those experiencing food insecurity (FI) have elevated anxiety and depression. FI is not static; and it is determined by factors such as SNAP benefits and household income. Using a micro-longitudinal design, we analyzed self-reported FI and anxiety/depression across six time points over three months.
Approach: FI was assessed with the US Household Food Security Survey Module, anxiety with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety scale, and depression with the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ). Inclusion: 18-44 years old, Latina, receiving SNAP benefits, positive 2-item screen for FI, and elevated diabetes risk. A multilevel regression tested whether FI was associated with depression and anxiety between persons and within persons across time. Analyses employed Mplus v8.11with alpha > 0.05.
Results
There were 87 participants, mean age 35.1 (SD=5.8) years. Nearly half only spoke Spanish (47%), most had no formal schooling (69%), with monthly household income <$1000 (63%). FI and depression were associated at both the between-person (B= 1.11, beta=0.46, p<.001) and within-person levels (B=0.37, beta=0.17, p=.002). FI and anxiety were associated at both the between-person (B= 1.31, beta=0.47, p<.001) and within-person levels (B=0.63, beta=0.21, p<.001). Between-person effects were twice as large as within-person effects.
Discussion
Persons with higher average levels of FI have higher symptoms of anxiety and depression. Within the same persons, timepoints with higher-than-average FI have higher levels of depression and anxiety at those time points. Food insecurity and mental health need to be addressed simultaneously.