{"id":211246,"date":"2025-02-25T09:52:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T19:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=211246"},"modified":"2025-02-25T09:52:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T19:52:06","slug":"food-insecurity-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/25\/food-insecurity-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Food insecurity a major driver of mental health challenges, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Donated<\/p>\n

Food insecurity is a key driver of poor mental health in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, according to a new study by University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa researchers.<\/p>\n

Published February 23, in Frontiers in Public Health<\/em><\/a>, the study analyzed data from 2,270 adults residing in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, collected in 2022, to assess the impact of socioeconomic and demographic factors on mental health. Nearly 40% of participants reported symptoms of depression, 15% experienced low self-esteem and 4.2% had thoughts of suicide. Among the most significant predictors of poor mental health was food insecurity, which disproportionately affected individuals with pre-existing health conditions.<\/p>\n

“These results highlight the critical role food security plays in shaping mental health outcomes,” said Ruben Juarez, paper co-lead and UH<\/abbr> Economic Research Organization<\/a> (UHERO<\/abbr>)-HMSA<\/abbr> Professor in Health Economics. “Addressing food insecurity isn\u2019t just about nutrition—it\u2019s about safeguarding mental well-being and improving overall community resilience.”<\/p>\n

Additional findings showed that employment and positive perceptions of community safety helped mitigate the risk of depression. Those with stable employment were 2.8% less likely to experience depression, while individuals who felt their communities were safe during the COVID-19 pandemic saw a 9.9% reduction in depression risk.<\/p>\n

Urgent needs: food assistance, economic security, trust in community<\/h2>\n

This study provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of the determinants of mental health—specifically depression, low self-esteem and suicidal ideation—among adults in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. The research, co-led by Juarez and Binh Le, a postdoctoral researcher at UHERO<\/abbr>, and a team of researchers at UHERO<\/abbr> and the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> underscores an urgent need for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> policymakers, healthcare providers and community organizations to expand food assistance programs, strengthen economic security and foster trust in community safety measures.<\/p>\n

“This study provides clear evidence that improving food security along with other socioeconomic factors must be a public health priority,” said Juarez. “By addressing these underlying economic and social factors, we can take meaningful steps toward reducing mental health disparities in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

The study, Socioeconomic Determinants of Mental Health Outcomes Among Hawaii Adults<\/em>, is available online<\/a>. Other authors on the paper are Daniela Bond-Smith, Carl Bonham, Lisa Sanchez-Johnsen and Alika K. Maunakea.<\/p>\n

UHERO<\/abbr> is housed in UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Social Sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> stories:<\/p>\n