207-OR: Food Insecurity Patterns and Mental Health among Youth and Young Adults with Diabetes

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 73; p. 1
• Main Authors: Alfalki, Ali M, Julceus, Emmanuel F, Flory, Kate, Mendoza, Jason A, Malik, Faisal, Frongillo, Edward A, Reboussin, Beth A, Bellatorre, Anna, Dabelea, Dana, Pihoker, Catherine, Liese, Angela D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York American Diabetes Association 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety disorders; Child & adolescent mental health; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Epidemiology; Food security; Mental depression; Mental health; Stress; Young adults
• ISSN: 0012-1797; 1939-327X
• DOI: 10.2337/db24-207-OR

Introduction & Objective: We explored the associations of food insecurity (FI) patterns with symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and changes therein in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Longitudinal data (2016-2022) from 747 YYA with T1D and 97 with T2D were analyzed using multivariable linear regression. Food security was ascertained with the Household Food Security Survey Module at 3 times (t1, t2, and t3) and patterned as persistently food secure (PFS), persistently food insecure (PFI), and intermittently food insecure (IFI). Mental health at t3 and changes from t2 to t3 were characterized with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale; higher scores indicated greater severity. Result: Among YYA with T1D, 6.6% experienced PFI and 20.3% IFI; among YYA with T2D, 16.5% were PFI and 42.3% IFI. In T1D, PFI and IFI were associated with greater depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms at t3 but not with changes. In T2D, PFI was associated with greater depressive symptoms at t3 but not with symptom changes. Conclusion: Both persistent and intermittent patterns of FI were associated with mental health symptoms, more so for those with PFI, underscoring the critical interplay between FI and mental health symptoms in YYA with diabetes.