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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 5/2013

01-05-2013 | Original Paper

Food insufficiency is associated with psychiatric morbidity in a nationally representative study of mental illness among food insecure Canadians

Authors: Katherine A. Muldoon, Putu K. Duff, Sarah Fielden, Aranka Anema

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 5/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

Studies suggest that people who are food insecure are more likely to experience mental illness. However, little is known about which aspects of food insecurity place individuals most at risk of mental illness. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of mental illness among food insecure Canadians, and examine whether mental illness differs between those who are consuming insufficient amounts of food versus poor quality foods.

Methods

This analysis utilized the publically available dataset from the Canadian Community Health Survey cycle 4.1. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the associations between food insecurity and mental health disorder diagnosis, while adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were used to identify vulnerable sub-groups.

Results

Among 5,588 Canadian adults (18–64 years) reporting food insecurity, 58 % reported poor food quality and 42 % reported food insufficiency. The prevalence of mental health diagnosis was 24 % among participants with poor food quality, and 35 % among individuals who were food insufficient (hunger). After adjusting for confounders, adults experiencing food insufficiency had 1.69 adjusted-odds [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.49–1.91] of having a mental health diagnosis. Stratified analyses revealed increased odds among women (a-OR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.62–2.20), single parent households (a-OR 2.05, 95 % CI 1.51–2.78), and non-immigrants (a-OR 1.88, 95 % CI 1.64–2.16).

Conclusion

The prevalence of mental illness is alarmingly high in this population-based sample of food insecure Canadians. These findings suggest that government and community-based programming aimed at strengthening food security should integrate supports for mental illness in this population.
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Metadata
Title
Food insufficiency is associated with psychiatric morbidity in a nationally representative study of mental illness among food insecure Canadians
Authors
Katherine A. Muldoon
Putu K. Duff
Sarah Fielden
Aranka Anema
Publication date
01-05-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0597-3

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