Food insecurity is associated with poorer mental health and sleep outcomes in young adults

The aim of this 2019 study was to discover associations between food insecurity, mental health, and sleep among young adults in the U.S. The data was taken from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which recruited 14,786 young adults aged 24-32 years. The outcomes measured were depression, anxiety, and suicidality (mental health) as well as trouble falling and staying asleep. While prevalence of food insecurity was 11% in the sample, these food-insecure young adults were more likely to have experienced mental health issues in the past 12 months, including being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or panic disorder, and having suicidal thoughts/ideas. There was also a correlation between food insecurity with having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. These findings indicate a link between food insecurity with poor mental and sleep outcomes in young adults. Nagata et al. believe it is necessary to screen young adults for food insecurity and provide referrals if appropriate. [NPID: low-income, food insecurity, depression, anxiety, suicide, insomnia, sleep]

Year: 2019

Reference: Nagata, J. M., Palar, K., Gooding, H. C., Garber, A. K., Whittle, H. J., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Weiser, S. D. (2019). Food Insecurity Is Associated With Poorer Mental Health and Sleep Outcomes in Young Adults. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 65(6), 805–811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.08.010