Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and depressive symptoms among adults with low family income in the U.S.: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aims to alleviate food insecurity; however, limited longitudinal data exist regarding its impact on depressive symptoms. This research investigates the associations between SNAP participation status over time and depressive symptoms among low-income individuals in the U.S., using data from NHANES (2011-2018). Participants aged ≥20 years with low family income were assessed for depressive symptoms using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a score ≥10 indicating significant depressive symptoms. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models revealed that current SNAP recipients and those who received SNAP in the last 12 months but are not currently receiving it exhibited higher levels of depressive symptoms and a greater prevalence of significant depressive symptoms. The cross-sectional nature of the study limits causal inferences, and reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias. Overall, the findings suggest that recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation correlates with increased depressive symptoms among low-income individuals, indicating that enhancing diet quality could be a pivotal strategy for mitigating depressive symptoms in this population. [NPID: SNAP, supplemental, depressive symptoms, low-income]

Year: 2024

Reference: Wei, J., Zhang, Y., Lohman, M. C., & Merchant, A. T. (2024). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and depressive symptoms among adults with low family income in the U.S.: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. Journal of affective disorders, 362, 828–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.093