Journal article
Psychosocial mechanisms largely mediate the path between food insecurity and depressive symptoms in later life
Geriatric nursing, Vol.68, pp.1-8
03/2026
PMID: 41576575
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Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) is highly prevalent and can lead to depression. This study 1) examines the association of FI with depression symptoms (DS) among older adults in Ghana, 2) explores the degree to which psychosocial factors mediate the FI-DS link, and 3) investigates the effect modification of the association by age and sex differences. Data from adults aged ≥50 years in the AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB Study were analyzed. DS (cutoff of ≥9) was assessed using the CES-D-10 scale. Continuous score and categorical FI were measured with hunger and skipped breakfast items due to insufficient food or resources. Multivariable regression and bootstrapping analyses were used to evaluate the hypothesized associations. The sample included 1201 individuals (M age=66.1[11.9]; F = 63.3%). Moderate (OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.22-2.51) and severe FI (OR=4.69, 95%CI=2.58-8.55) (vs no FI) were associated with DS, while a unit increase in FI was associated with 1.67 (95%CI=1.39-2.01) times higher odds for DS. The association was much stronger in males than in females and in those aged 50-69 years than in those aged ≥70. Anxiety (mediated percetage 41%), loneliness (30%), hopelessness (8%), and social isolation (4%) mediated the FI-DS association. Higher FI levels are positively associated with DS. Addressing FI and the identified psychosocial mediators may reduce DS in food-insecure older adults in low-income countries, pending future longitudinal conclusions.
Details
- Title
- Psychosocial mechanisms largely mediate the path between food insecurity and depressive symptoms in later life
- Creators
- Razak M Gyasi - African Population and Health Research CenterNana Araba Abokoma Egyir - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyJoana Kwabena-Adade - University of Health and Allied SciencesBarnabas Addai Amanfo - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologySimon Boateng - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyMark Gyapong - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyVictoria Mensah Nyamadi - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyMary Sefa Boampong - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyLouis Jacob - Université Paris CitéDavid R Phillips - Lingnan UniversityAndré Hajek - University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
- Publication Details
- Geriatric nursing, Vol.68, pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc; NEW YORK
- Grant note
- Lingnan University, Hong Kong: RPG1129310
This work was supported by Lingnan University, Hong Kong [grant numbers: RPG1129310] , to Razak M. Gyasi (https:// www.ln. edu.hk/aboutlu/introducinglingnan) . The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.
- Identifiers
- 991013346937902368
- Copyright
- © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
- Academic Unit
- National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article