Relative food insecurity, mental health and wellbeing in 160 countries.

Autor: Elgar FJ; Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 1A3, Canada. Electronic address: frank.elgar@mcgill.ca., Pickett W; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Carruthers Hall, 62 Fifth Field Company Lane, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada., Pförtner TK; Institute for Medical Sociology, University of Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933, Cologne, Germany., Gariépy G; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, 7101 Park Avenue, Montréal, Québec, H3N 1X9, Canada., Gordon D; Bristol Poverty Institute, University of Bristol, 10 Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1TN, United Kingdom., Georgiades K; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus, Administration - B3, 100 West 5th, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada., Davison C; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Carruthers Hall, 62 Fifth Field Company Lane, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada., Hammami N; Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 1A3, Canada., MacNeil AH; Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 Avenue McGill College, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, Canada., Azevedo Da Silva M; Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 1A3, Canada., Melgar-Quiñonez HR; School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Dr, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3L9, Canada.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Social science & medicine (1982) [Soc Sci Med] 2021 Jan; Vol. 268, pp. 113556. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 28.
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113556
Abstrakt: Food insecurity contributes to various stress-related health problems and previous research found that its association with mental illness is stronger in more affluent countries. We hypothesised that this pattern is a function of relative deprivation whereby the severity of individual food insecurity relative to others in a reference group determines its associations with mental health and wellbeing after differences in absolute food insecurity are controlled for. Using survey data from the Gallup World Poll collected in 160 countries and a measure of relative deprivation (Yitzhaki index), we found that relative food insecurity-based on national or regional reference groups-related to more mental health symptoms, lower positive wellbeing and lower life satisfaction after controlling for absolute food insecurity, household income, and country differences. Our analysis also found that relative food insecurity was more strongly related to mental health and wellbeing where the prevalence of food insecurity was lower. The findings underscore the negative health consequences of material deprivation and unfavourable social comparisons. Consistent with relative deprivation theory, individuals who live with constant worries about not getting enough food, have to skip meals, or face chronic hunger are deprived of material and social resources that support mental health and wellbeing, especially in settings where food insecurity is less common and potentially more stigmatised. The implications of these findings for global food policy and surveillance efforts are discussed.
(Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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