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Food insecurity is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress: Evidence from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
This 2021 study aimed to understand the interaction between food insecurity and depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among low-income adults in the United States. Between the 19th and 24th March 2020, a web-based survey was conducted to gather data on food security among low-income adults (those under the 250% Federal poverty line). More than one-third of the respondents screened positive for depression (33%), anxiety (39%), and stress (39%). There was a dose-dependent relationship between higher food insecurity and all the psychological distress outcomes and COVID-19-related worries. Moreover, adults with very low food security were more likely to test positive for depression, anxiety, and high perceived stress, when compared with food-secure individuals. In addition, very low food security was linked with increased concerns on COVID-19’s effects on health, income, and ability to keep providing for the family. This coronavirus pandemic is negatively affecting the mental health of low-income adults in the U.S., particularly those with food insecurity. This may result in greater disparities in mental health in the future. [NPID: COVID, coronavirus, pandemic, food, diet, food insecurity, depression, anxiety, stress, US, United States, Americans, low income, poor, poverty, health]
Year: 2021
