Does food security predict poor mental health?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-12-2016-0058 |
| Date | 19 March 2018 |
| Pages | 3-10 |
| Published date | 19 March 2018 |
| Author | Justin Tevie,Fadia Shaya |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
Does food security predict poor mental
health?
Justin Tevie and Fadia Shaya
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to assess food security as a risk factor in the development of poor
mental health among younger populations in the USA over an eight-year period using a nationally
representative cross-sectional sample.
Design/methodology/approach –Using data from individuals who participated in the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2012, respondents were classified as either having “poor
mental health”or “good mental health.”Multivariate logistic regression models based on this dichotomy are
employed to estimate the odds ratios in the association of household food security and mental health using
three cut-off points that correspond to these models.
Findings –Respondents from very low food security had higher odds (OR¼2.06, p o0.0001; OR ¼1.98,
po0.0001; OR ¼1.94, p ¼0.01) of suffering from poor mental health compared with participants from fully
food secure households. These findings indicate the robustness of the results across all three separate
regression models.
Research limitations/implications –Causality cannot be determined from the cross-sectional design.
Although potential endogeneity could invalidate the conclusions, these findings inform public policy that food
security is a contributory factor in the development of poor mental health at an early age. It suggests that
interventions to alleviate food insecurity could improve mental health among younger populations in the USA.
Originality/value –Several cut-off points are developed to distinguish between “poor”and “good”mental
health to assess the robustness of the findings. This approach has the potential to minimize the
misclassification of mental health outcomes. Very low food security is a strong predictor of poor mental health
regardless of the cut-off point used.
Keywords Youth, Mental health, Food security, National Health And Nutrition Examination Surveys
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The prevalence of food security is a public health concern particularly in developing countries
(Cole and Tembo, 2011; Lund et al., 2010; Weaver and Hadley, 2009; Maes et al., 2010), but
is fast becoming a significant problem in the USA (Parker et al., 2010). The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that as of 2009, 17.4 million US households
(14.7 percent) experienced food insecurity (Nord et al., 2009); this was the highest level since the
USDA began recording food security levels in 1995. In addition, of all households with children,
8.4 million (21.3 percent) experienced food insecurity (Nord et al., 2009). The determinants of
food security has generated a lot of research interest at both national and international levels,
particularly its association with poor mental health outcomes (Cole and Tembo, 2011;
Lund et al., 2010; Weaver and Hadley, 2009; Maes et al., 2010; Parker et al., 2010).
The relationship between physical and mental health is a complex one, and the presence of one
could accelerate the development of the other (Doherty and Gaughran, 2014). Food security
complicates this relationship because it is quite difficult to extricate its health impact from other
risk factors (Olson, 1999; Campbell, 1991). Prior research suggest that poverty, obesity,
diabetes are associated with food security (Seligman et al., 2010; Townsend et al., 2001;
Laraia et al., 2010; Ford, 2013). Food security is associated with poor health outcomes in
Received 18 December 2016
Revised 27 August 2017
Accepted 31 October 2017
Conflicts of interests: authors
declare no conflict of interest.
Justin Tevie is a Postdoctoral
Fellow at the University of
Maryland School of Pharmacy,
Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Fadia Shaya is based at the
School of Pharmacy, University
of Maryland Baltimore,
Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
DOI 10.1108/JPMH-12-2016-0058 VOL. 17 NO. 1 2018, pp. 3-10, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTALHEALTH
j
PAG E 3
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