{"title":"Unpacking the Association Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health Disorders Among Older Adults.","authors":"Lei Chai, Xiangnan Chai","doi":"10.1177/08982643251314066","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Previous research shows a negative correlation between food insecurity and mental health, but limited exploration exists among older adults. This study examines this association in Canadian adults aged 65 and older, focusing on the mediating roles of perceived life stress and community belonging, and the moderating role of gender.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional data from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (<i>n</i> = 28,044) were analyzed using logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The associations between food insecurity and both anxiety and mood disorders were partially mediated by high life stress and low community belonging. The adverse associations of food insecurity, high life stress, and low community belonging with an anxiety disorder were more pronounced in women than in men. Similar patterns were observed for a mood disorder.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Interventions should address food insecurity, life stress, and community belonging, with particular attention to the unique challenges faced by older women to improve mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":51385,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aging and Health","volume":" ","pages":"8982643251314066"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Aging and Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643251314066","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: Previous research shows a negative correlation between food insecurity and mental health, but limited exploration exists among older adults. This study examines this association in Canadian adults aged 65 and older, focusing on the mediating roles of perceived life stress and community belonging, and the moderating role of gender.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 28,044) were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results: The associations between food insecurity and both anxiety and mood disorders were partially mediated by high life stress and low community belonging. The adverse associations of food insecurity, high life stress, and low community belonging with an anxiety disorder were more pronounced in women than in men. Similar patterns were observed for a mood disorder.
Discussion: Interventions should address food insecurity, life stress, and community belonging, with particular attention to the unique challenges faced by older women to improve mental health.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Aging and Health is an interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of research findings and scholarly exchange in the area of aging and health. Manuscripts are sought that deal with social and behavioral factors related to health and aging. Disciplines represented include the behavioral and social sciences, public health, epidemiology, demography, health services research, nursing, social work, medicine, and related disciplines. Although preference is given to manuscripts presenting the findings of original research, review and methodological pieces will also be considered.