Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children
Abstract Objective: To investigate food insecurity and related coping strategies, and their associations with the risk of anxiety and depression, among South African households with children. Design: Nationally representative cross-sectional study. Tools for assessing food insecurity, coping str...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Public Health Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024000879/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797201185640284160 |
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| author | Siphiwe N Dlamini Asanda Mtintsilana Ashleigh Craig Witness Mapanga Shane A Norris |
| author_facet | Siphiwe N Dlamini Asanda Mtintsilana Ashleigh Craig Witness Mapanga Shane A Norris |
| author_sort | Siphiwe N Dlamini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objective:
To investigate food insecurity and related coping strategies, and their associations with the risk of anxiety and depression, among South African households with children.
Design:
Nationally representative cross-sectional study. Tools for assessing food insecurity, coping strategies, risk of anxiety and depression were assessed from the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project, Coping Strategies Index, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. We used ordered logistic regression to test associations of food insecurity and coping strategies with the risk of anxiety and depression. Moderating effects of each coping strategy were tested in the associations of food insecurity with anxiety and depression.
Setting:
South Africa, post COVID-19 restrictions, May–June 2022.
Participants:
1,774 adults, weighted to 20,955,234 households.
Results:
Food insecurity prevalence was 23·7 % among households with children. All coping strategies were used to some extent, but relying on less preferred and less expensive foods was the most used strategy (85·5 % of food-insecure households). Moving to a higher level of food insecurity was associated with >1·6 greater odds of being in a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Sending a household member to beg for food was the strongest associated factor (OR = 1·7, P < 0·001). All coping strategies partly moderated (lessened) the associations of food insecurity with a higher risk of anxiety and depression.
Conclusions:
Food insecurity among households with children was high following the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborative efforts between government, private sector and civil society to eradicate food insecurity should prioritise poorer households with children, as these populations are the most vulnerable.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:43:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f8737af1a5646f98836729cd67f638d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1368-9800 1475-2727 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:43:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f8737af1a5646f98836729cd67f638d2024-04-19T07:43:56ZengCambridge University PressPublic Health Nutrition1368-98001475-27272024-01-012710.1017/S1368980024000879Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with childrenSiphiwe N Dlamini0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8383-7866Asanda Mtintsilana1Ashleigh Craig2Witness Mapanga3Shane A Norris4School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaSchool of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaSAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaSAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Strengthening Oncology Services Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaSAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa School of Human Development and Health, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK Abstract Objective: To investigate food insecurity and related coping strategies, and their associations with the risk of anxiety and depression, among South African households with children. Design: Nationally representative cross-sectional study. Tools for assessing food insecurity, coping strategies, risk of anxiety and depression were assessed from the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project, Coping Strategies Index, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. We used ordered logistic regression to test associations of food insecurity and coping strategies with the risk of anxiety and depression. Moderating effects of each coping strategy were tested in the associations of food insecurity with anxiety and depression. Setting: South Africa, post COVID-19 restrictions, May–June 2022. Participants: 1,774 adults, weighted to 20,955,234 households. Results: Food insecurity prevalence was 23·7 % among households with children. All coping strategies were used to some extent, but relying on less preferred and less expensive foods was the most used strategy (85·5 % of food-insecure households). Moving to a higher level of food insecurity was associated with >1·6 greater odds of being in a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Sending a household member to beg for food was the strongest associated factor (OR = 1·7, P < 0·001). All coping strategies partly moderated (lessened) the associations of food insecurity with a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Food insecurity among households with children was high following the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborative efforts between government, private sector and civil society to eradicate food insecurity should prioritise poorer households with children, as these populations are the most vulnerable. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024000879/type/journal_articleFood insecurityCoping strategiesHouseholds with childrenAnxietyDepression |
| spellingShingle | Siphiwe N Dlamini Asanda Mtintsilana Ashleigh Craig Witness Mapanga Shane A Norris Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children Public Health Nutrition Food insecurity Coping strategies Households with children Anxiety Depression |
| title | Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children |
| title_full | Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children |
| title_fullStr | Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children |
| title_short | Food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among South African households with children |
| title_sort | food insecurity and coping strategies associate with higher risk of anxiety and depression among south african households with children |
| topic | Food insecurity Coping strategies Households with children Anxiety Depression |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1368980024000879/type/journal_article |
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