Food Insecurity Mediates the Relationship between Poverty and Mental Health
Tania Nagpaul, Dalvin Sidhu, Jinwen Chen
Abstract
Poverty and food insecurity have been related to lower cognitive functioning and psychological distress. However, how these interrelated concepts interact with each other remains unexamined. We examine how food insecurity mediates the relationship between a) poverty and cognitive capacity, and b) poverty and psychological distress. Four hundred and nineteen adults participated in a cross-sectional survey on household food insecurity. Mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effects of poverty on both cognitive capacity and psychological distress via food insecurity were significant. Future interventions aiming to alleviate poverty and improving mental health, can therefore consider including food security strategies as a potential action lever.