Abstract
Background
Food insecurity affects 13.7 million U.S. households and is linked to poor mental
health. Families shield children from food insecurity by sacrificing their nutritional
needs, suggesting parents and children experience food insecurity differentially.
Objective
To identify the associations of food insecurity and mental health outcomes in parents
and children
Data Sources
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycInfo
Study Eligibility Criteria
We included original research published in English from January 1990 – June 2020 that
examined associations between food insecurity and mental health in children or parents/guardians
in the U.S.
Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods
Two reviewers screened studies for inclusion. Data extraction was completed by one
reviewer and checked by a second. Bias and confounding were assessed using the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality RTI Item Bank. Studies were synthesized qualitatively,
grouped by mental health outcome, and patterns were assessed. Meta-analyses were not
performed due to high variability between studies.
Results
We included 108 studies, assessing 250,553 parents and 203,822 children in total.
Most studies showed a significant association between food insecurity and parental
depression, anxiety, and stress, and between food insecurity and child depression,
externalizing/internalizing behaviors, and hyperactivity.
Limitations
Most studies were cross-sectional and many were medium- or high-risk for bias or confounding.
Conclusions and Implications of Key Findings
Food insecurity is significantly associated with various mental health outcomes in
both parents and children. The rising prevalence of food insecurity and mental health
problems make it imperative that effective public health and policy interventions
address both problems.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
April 30,
2022
Received:
September 27,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Funding: Dr. Brown was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (grant K23HD099249). Dr. Palakshappa is supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (K23HL146902). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The funding source had no role in the study design; collection, analysis or interpretation of data; writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication
Declarations of Interest: none
Identification
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