The Link Between Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress: The Role of Stress Exposure and Coping Resources

Overview

Journal J Community Psychol

Publisher Wiley

Specialties Health Services
Psychology

Date 2021 Nov 4

PMID 34735724

Citations 13

Authors

Gabriele Ciciurkaite

Robyn Lewis Brown

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examines the association between food insecurity and mental health over a 3-year period. It also assesses the salience of life stressors and psychosocial coping resources for this association. We utilize data from a two-wave community survey of Miami-Dade County, Florida residents (N = 1488). Findings from SEM analysis reveal that greater food insecurity at W1 is associated with greater depressive symptoms at W2, lending credence to characterizations of food insecurity as a chronic stressor. This association is partly mediated by variation over the study period in social support and mastery. However, no significant mediating effects are observed for the social stress indicators assessed. Food insecurity is associated with diminished psychosocial coping resources, which leads to greater psychological distress. We discuss how these findings extend a stress and coping model of food insecurity, and implications for research and practice.

Citing Articles

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