Abstract
Objective
To investigate whether adolescents living in households with food insecurity have
poorer parent-reported mental health (MH) than peers.
Methods
We analyzed cross-sectional data from ∼8600 adolescents who participated in the 2007
(8th grade) wave of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten. Household
food insecurity (HFI) was assessed by parental report on the 18-item US Household
Food Security Scale. Total Difficulties score >13 on the parent-reported Strengths
and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) indicated problems with adolescent MH. SDQ subscale
scores (Emotional, Conduct, Hyperactivity, Peer Problems) were also calculated. Associations
between HFI and MH were explored in bivariate and multivariable analyses. Interactions
of HFI and gender and HFI and receipt of free/reduced-price school lunch were analyzed
with regard to problems with MH.
Results
A total of 10.2% of adolescents lived with HFI; 11.2% had SDQ >13. Adolescents with
HFI had higher rates of overall MH problems (28.7% vs 9.2%), emotional problems (21.6%
vs 6.6%), conduct problems (26.5% vs 11.6%), hyperactivity (22.4% vs 11.3%), and peer
problems (19.8% vs 8.6%) (all P < .01). After adjustment for confounders, the association between HFI and overall
MH problems (odds ratio 2.3; 95% confidence interval 1.6–3.3) remained. Interactions
of HFI and gender and HFI and free/reduced-price school lunch were not significant.
Conclusions
HFI was associated with increased risk of parent-reported MH problems among both male
and female adolescents. Free/reduced-price school lunch did not significantly alter
this relationship. Effective interventions to promote MH and reduce HFI among adolescents
are necessary.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 21, 2015
Accepted:
August 15,
2015
Received:
June 10,
2014
Footnotes
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
