Abstract
Food insecurity (which can be defined as inadequate access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets individuals’ dietary needs) is concurrently associated with children’s psychological difficulties. However, the predictive role of food insecurity with regard to specific types of children’s mental health symptoms has not previously been studied. We used data from the Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Québec, LSCDQ, a representative birth cohort study of children born in the Québec region, in Canada, in 1997–1998 (n = 2120). Family food insecurity was ascertained when children were 1½ and 4½ years old. Children’s mental health symptoms were assessed longitudinally using validated measures of behaviour at ages 4½, 5, 6 and 8 years. Symptom trajectory groups were estimated to identify children with persistently high levels of depression/anxiety (21.0%), aggression (26.2%), and hyperactivity/inattention (6.0%). The prevalence of food insecurity in the study was 5.9%. In sex-adjusted analyses, children from food-insecure families were disproportionately likely to experience persistent symptoms of depression/anxiety (OR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.15–2.79) and hyperactivity/inattention (OR: 3.06, 95% CI 1.68–5.55). After controlling for immigrant status, family structure, maternal age at child’s birth, family income, maternal and paternal education, prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal and paternal depression and negative parenting, only persistent hyperactivity/inattention remained associated with food insecurity (fully adjusted OR: 2.65, 95% CI 1.16–6.06). Family food insecurity predicts high levels of children’s mental health symptoms, particularly hyperactivity/inattention. Addressing food insecurity and associated problems in families could help reduce the burden of mental health problems in children and reduce social inequalities in development.
Highlights
In industrialized countries, approximately 5–15% of families experience food insecurity, that is insufficient access to ‘‘sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets individuals’ dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life’’ [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Children growing up in families that are food-insecure appear to have high levels of symptoms of anxiety/depression [12,14,15,16], aggression, and hyperactivity/inattention [5,12,17]. This may be due to three mechanisms: 1) food insecurity may be associated with other exposures related to children’s psychological well-being; 2) food insecurity and children’s mental health may have common causes; 3) food insecurity may independently predict children’s psychological and behavioral well-being [18]; and 4) food insecurity may predict parental depression [19]
We test the relationship between food insecurity in early childhood and children’s symptoms of depression/anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity/ inattention up to age 8, accounting for child and familial characteristics which may be associated with food insecurity and children’s mental health [16,20]: child’s sex, immigrant status, family structure, maternal age at child’s birth, family income, maternal and paternal education, prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal and paternal depression, family functioning and negative parenting
Summary
Approximately 5–15% of families experience food insecurity, that is insufficient access to ‘‘sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets individuals’ dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life’’ [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Children growing up in families that are food-insecure appear to have high levels of symptoms of anxiety/depression [12,14,15,16], aggression, and hyperactivity/inattention [5,12,17] This may be due to three mechanisms: 1) food insecurity may be associated with other exposures related to children’s psychological well-being (e.g. low income); 2) food insecurity and children’s mental health may have common causes (e.g. parental psychopathology); 3) food insecurity may independently predict children’s psychological and behavioral well-being [18]; and 4) food insecurity may predict parental depression [19]. We test the relationship between food insecurity in early childhood (before age 4K) and children’s symptoms of depression/anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity/ inattention up to age 8, accounting for child and familial characteristics which may be associated with food insecurity and children’s mental health [16,20]: child’s sex, immigrant status, family structure, maternal age at child’s birth, family income, maternal and paternal education, prenatal tobacco exposure, maternal and paternal depression, family functioning and negative parenting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
