The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Main Authors: Di Fang, Michael R. Thomsen, Rodolfo M. Nayga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-03-01
• Series: BMC Public Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10631-0

Abstract Objective To explore the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among low-income Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a survey of 2714 low-income respondents nationwide from June 29, 2020 to July 21, 2020. A proportional odds logit model was employed to estimate the associations between food insecurity and anxiety and between food insecurity and depression. Results Food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxiety and a 253% higher risk of depression. Losing a job during the pandemic is associated with a 32% increase in risk for anxiety and a 27% increase in risk for depression. Conclusions Food insecurity caused by the pandemic was associated with increased risk of mental illness. The relative risk of mental illness from being food insecure is almost three-fold that of losing a job during the pandemic. Public health measures should focus on getting direct subsidies of food purchases to poor families, especially families with children. They should also reduce the stigma and shame that is associated with accepting charitable foods.