(P20-049-24) Relationship Between Food Security and Mental Health Among Mothers With Young Children in Southern US Households With Low-Income

Objectives: Food insecurity and poor mental health can influence uptake of interventions intended to improve dietary patterns, particularly in high risk groups. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between food security and mental health among mothers in the southern US with young children living in households with low income.

Methods: A sub-analysis of a larger cross-sectional survey (12/2023) was conducted among mothers with children under the age of 5, a household income below 100% of the federal poverty level, and living in the southern US census region. Food security was categorized as food secure (FS) or food insecure (FIS). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were categorized as clinically significant or not significant. Resilience capacities were reported as low or not low and mothers indicated on a Likert-type scale how much a range of barriers prevented them from participating in assistance programs (e.g. transportation). Analyses included chi-square tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and effect sizes (φc) with a Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0016).

Results: Overall, 76% of all mothers (n=237) were experiencing food insecurity. There were no differences in income or household size between the FS and FIS groups. There was a moderate effect (φc= 0.3) of food security on likelihood of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression. In the FIS group, 62% experienced significant anxiety symptoms compared to 29% in the FS group (p < 0.001). Similar results were seen for depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Although all participants were income eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), mothers in the FIS group were more likely to use SNAP (φc= 0.2; p< 0.001). There were no significant differences between the FS and FIS groups related to assistance barriers or resilience capacities.

Conclusions: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and associated with poor mental health, suggesting a need for additional support for mothers with young children with incomes below the poverty line. As there were no differences in assistance barriers despite differences in SNAP participation, further exploration to identify other potential reasons for not participating in SNAP is needed.

Funding Sources: Funding was provided by Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences.