Impact of household food insecurity and nutrition on depression and anxiety symptoms among adolescents living in rural Pakistan
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7148949 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susan Campisi (0000-0003-1072-9228, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Florence Perquier (0000-0001-9622-3652, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Yaqub Wasan (0000-0003-3797-6173, Aga Khan University), Sajid Soofi (0000-0003-4192-8406, Aga Khan University), Daphne Korczak (0000-0002-0061-7495, University of Toronto), Suneeta Monga (0000-0002-1068-3920, University of Toronto), Peter Szatmari (0000-0002-1763-067X, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Zulfiqar A Bhutta (0000-0003-0637-599X, University of Toronto) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | e79-e79 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2054-4251 • E-ISSN: 2054-4251 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/gmh.2025.10006 |
| PMID | 40765949 |
| OpenAlex | W4412159133 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 68 |
Background This study investigates the links between dietary diversity, food insecurity and mental health (depression and anxiety) in adolescents from rural Pakistan. Adolescence is a critical time for developing mental health disorders, yet limited research exists on these issues in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods The study included 1,396 adolescents (ages 9–15) and assessed their mental health, nutrition and maternal well-being. Depression and anxiety were measured using standardized questionnaires, while dietary diversity and food insecurity were evaluated through household assessments. Incidence rate ratios assessed the relationship between nutrition and mental health. Results Results showed that 8.1% of boys and 10.2% of girls experienced depression, with anxiety rates ranging from 5.8% to 39.1%. Adolescents from households with higher dietary diversity had lower symptoms of depression and anxiety (IRRs:0.91–0.96), while those with higher food insecurity had increased symptoms (IRRs:1.24–1.86). Folate deficiency was associated with depressive symptoms, particularly in boys. Maternal mental health was observed to mediate the relationship between food insecurity and adolescent depression and anxiety. Conclusions The study highlights that improving maternal mental health and addressing nutritional deficiencies, particularly folate, may benefit adolescent well-being. Further research in other LMICs is needed to explore these associations and their mechanisms
Agriculture · Anxiety · Economics · Environmental health · Food insecurity · Food security · Geography · Psychiatry · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology
Development of a Universally Applicable Household Food Insecurity Measurement Tool
Nutrition in adolescents
A Prospective Study of Diet Quality and Mental Health in Adolescents
The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health
Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents
Annual Research Review
Psychometric properties of the Sindhi version of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) in a sample of early adolescents living in rural Pakistan
Maternal depression is associated with less dietary diversity among rural Nepali children
The Relationship between Flourishing and Depression in Children in the U.S. Using a Socioecological Perspective
Associations between adolescents’ internalizing problems and well-being
Predictors of chronic food insecurity among adolescents in Southwest Ethiopia
Food insecurity and mental health
Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Lebanese households with children aged 4–18 years
Depressive symptoms and observed eating in youth
Confronting myths about household food insecurity and excess weight
Who eats last? Intra-household gender inequality in food allocation among children in educationally backward areas of India
Selective Versus Generalized Gender Bias in Childhood Health and Nutrition
Family Processes and Children's and Adolescents' Well-Being
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |