The Psychology of Food Insecurity: Effects of Early COVID-19 on Mental Health


Summary: 

Food insecurity is a critical issue within nutritional psychology due to its strong impact on mental health. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in the United States increased dramatically, rising from 11 percent of households in 2018 to approximately 35–38 percent in early 2020. Among low-income adults, 44 percent experienced food insecurity, alongside sharp increases in depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.

Wolfson, Garcia, and Leung (2021) examined the relationship between food insecurity and mental health outcomes in a low-income adult sample of 1,476 participants between March 19 and March 24, 2020. Household food security over the previous 30 days was assessed using the 18-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey, with food insecurity defined as low or very low food security based on U.S. Department of Agriculture criteria.

Mental health outcomes were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire, which assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression experienced during the prior two weeks. Participants also rated their level of worry about feeding their families using a four-point Likert scale.

Results showed a strong association between food insecurity and mental health symptoms. Compared to food-secure individuals, those with very low food security were 7.49 times more likely to experience depression, 6.19 times more likely to experience anxiety, and 10.91 times more likely to report high perceived stress. Open-ended responses further revealed that participants felt scared, anxious, and depressed, with many stating that the pandemic worsened pre-existing mental health conditions.

The authors concluded that food insecurity is closely linked to increased depression, anxiety, and stress, particularly during periods of crisis. They emphasized the need for both immediate and long-term mental health support for low-income populations, along with policy interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity. Continued access to programs such as SNAP and emergency food resources was identified as essential for protecting mental health.



This summary is based on the article “The Psychology of Food Insecurity: Effects of Early COVID-19 on Mental Health" by the Center for nutritional psychology.

Read the full article : https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/the-psychology-of-food-insecurity-effects-of-early-covid-19-on-mental-health/

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