Food Insecurity During Toddlerhood: Links With Maternal Depression and Parent and Child Competence

Background: Maternal Depression (MD) has been implicated in the etiology of obesity. The present study investigated MD and both child fruit/vegetable consumption (FVC) and household food insecurity (FI) in an early childhood population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Arkansas, United States, in 26 Head Start centers. Teachers obtained the Family Map (FM), an interview assessment tool used by Head Start staff to identify potential risk factors that affect child learning and development. The FM contains a two-item screener of parent depression—the Patient Health Questionaire-2, two questions about family FI, and two questions about FVC. The FM was completed in 693 households. Chi square analyses and logistic regressions utilizing adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios were utilized to compare differences in risk for children of mothers with no symptoms compared to mothers with low- or high-level depressive symptoms. Results: Children whose mothers had high MD were 2.90 (CI: 1.21–7.00) and 7.81 (CI: 3.71–16.45) times more likely to be at risk for low FVC and FI, respectively, compared to children of mothers with no MD. Similar findings but at lower magnitude were found for mothers with low symptoms of MD in comparison with mothers with no MD—both for Low FVC (1.57 times more likely; CI: 1.01–2.45) and FI (2.14 times more likely; CI: 1.28–3.58). The results presented are Odds Ratios from the multivariable adjusted models. Conclusions: Implications for the etiology of obesity, prevention/intervention efforts, and future research are offered, including recommended addition of maternal depression and household FI screening in early childhood programs.

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Influence of Maternal Depression on Household Food Insecurity for Low-Income Families

Academic Pediatrics ◽

10.1016/j.acap.2014.10.002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 305-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Arvin Garg ◽

Sarah Toy ◽

Yorghos Tripodis ◽

John Cook ◽

Nick Cordella

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Low Income ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

Low Income Families

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Food Insecurity and Housing Instability Partially Mediate the Association Between Maternal Depression and Child Problem Behavior

The Journal of Primary Prevention ◽

10.1007/s10935-020-00588-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 245-259

Author(s):

Natalie Guerrero ◽

Kevin M. Wagner ◽

Ronald Gangnon ◽

Carmen R. Valdez ◽

Marah A. Curtis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Problem Behavior ◽

Housing Instability ◽

Child Problem Behavior

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Retraction notice to “Independent and combined associations of intimate partner violence and food insecurity on maternal depression and generalized anxiety disorder” [Journal of Anxiety Disorders Volume 81, June 2021, 102409]

Journal of Anxiety Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102431 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102431

Author(s):

Sajeevika Saumali Daundasekara ◽

Brittany R. Schuler ◽

Daphne C. Hernandez

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Retraction Notice

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Disentangling food insecurity and maternal depression: Which comes first?

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021000434 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Layton Reesor-Oyer ◽

Aliye B. Cepni ◽

Che Young Lee ◽

Xue Zhao ◽

Daphne C. Hernandez

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Low Income ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Short Form ◽

Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽

The United States ◽

Time Points ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective: To determine the temporal directionality of the association between food insecurity and maternal depression. Design: Food insecurity was measured at two time points using the 18-item USDA Food Security Scale. Maternal depression was measured at two time points using the 15-item Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form. Two structural equation models were utilized to evaluate the impact of food insecurity on maternal depression (model 1) and the impact of maternal depression on food insecurity (model 2). Both models controlled for socio-demographic and parenting characteristics and child behavior problems, along with prior measures of the dependent variable, concurrent measures of the independent variable. Setting: Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) study, 20 cities across the United States Participants: 4,897 mothers who participated in two waves of the FFCW study. Results: On average, 17% (time 1) and 15% (time 2) of mothers experienced food insecurity and 21% (time 1) and 17% (time 2) of mothers experienced depression over time. Maternal depression at time 1 was associated with 53% increased odds (OR=1.53; B=0.43; p <.001) of food insecurity at time 2, controlling for time 1 food insecurity, concurrent depression, and covariates. Food insecurity at time 1 was associated with 36% increased odds (OR=1.36; B=0.31; p <.001) of maternal depression at time 2, controlling for time 1 depression, concurrent food insecurity, and covariates. Conclusions: We found a bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and maternal depression. A holistic approach that combines food assistance and mental health services may be an efficacious approach to reducing both depressive symptoms food insecurity among low-income mothers.

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Factors associated with diarrhea and acute respiratory infection in children under two years of age in rural Bangladesh

BMC Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s12887-019-1738-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Md Barkat Ullah ◽

Malay K. Mridha ◽

Charles D. Arnold ◽

Susana L. Matias ◽

Md Showkat A. Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Respiratory Infection ◽

Acute Respiratory Infection ◽

Depression Score ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Garbage Disposal ◽

Household Food

Abstract Background Diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) are major causes of child mortality. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with diarrhea and ARI among children under 2 years of age in rural northern Bangladesh. Method We collected information on diarrhea and ARI in the previous 14 days and the previous 6 months at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age as part of a longitudinal, cluster randomized effectiveness trial, the Rang-Din Nutrition Study which enrolled 4011 pregnant women at ≤20 gestational weeks. Women and their children were followed up until 2 years postpartum. Information on household socioeconomic status, type of toilet, garbage disposal system, food insecurity, number of under-five children in the household, type of family, maternal characteristics and child characteristics was collected at baseline and/or at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months postpartum. Data on newborn health and feeding behaviors were collected within 72 h of delivery. Associations between potential risk factors and morbidity prevalence outcomes were assessed using logistic regression controlling for potential confounders. Results Out of 3664 live born children, we collected information from ~ 3350 children at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Diarrhea in the previous 14 days, and in the previous 6 months, was associated with maternal depression score and food insecurity; diarrhea in the previous 6 months was also associated with family type (nuclear vs. joint). ARI in the previous 14 days was associated with maternal depression score, type of toilet and garbage disposal, household food insecurity and sex. Cough or nasal discharge in the past 6 months was associated with maternal depression score, type of toilet and garbage disposal, household food insecurity, sex and perceived overall physical condition of the infant after birth. Conclusion Maternal depression and food insecurity appear to be important risk factors for diarrhea and respiratory infection among children under 2 years of age in this setting. These findings suggest that policies and programs that include strategies to address maternal mental health and household food insecurity may contribute to improved child health. Trial registration The trial was registered with the US National Institutes of Health at ClinicalTrials.gov, # NCT01715038, with registration completed October 26, 2012.

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How does food insecurity and maternal depression affect childhood behavior?

Evidence-Based Practice ◽

10.1097/ebp.0000000000001396 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Maya Pandit ◽

Arisheniah Sothilingam ◽

Camila Ramirez ◽

Rebecca McAteer

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Childhood Behavior

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Food insecurity and maternal depression in rural, low-income families: a longitudinal investigation

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980008003650 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1133-1140 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

Catherine Huddleston-Casas ◽

Richard Charnigo ◽

Leigh Ann Simmons

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Low Income ◽

Missing Values ◽

Rural Families ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

The Usa

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and maternal depression in a rural sample to determine whether food insecurity predicted mothers’ depression over time or vice versa.DesignThe study employed a prospective design using three waves of data from ‘Rural Families Speak’, a multi-state study of low-income rural families in the USA. Food insecurity was measured using the Core Food Security Module and depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale. A structural equation model was fit to the data using the AMOS software package.SettingSixteen states in the USA (California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming) between 2000 and 2002.SubjectsSubjects included 413 women with at least one child under the age of 13 years living in the home.ResultsFindings based on the 184 subjects with complete data indicated that the causal relationship between household food insecurity and depression is bidirectional (P = 0·034 for causation from depression to food insecurity, P = 0·003 for causation from food insecurity to depression, χ2/df = 1·835, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0·068, comparative fit index = 0·989). Findings based on all 413 subjects after imputation of missing values also indicated bidirectionality.ConclusionsThe recursive relationship between food insecurity and depression has implications for US nutrition, mental health and poverty policies. The study highlights the need to integrate programmes addressing food insecurity and poor mental health for the population of rural, low-income women.

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