Food insecurity and common mental disorders among Ethiopian youth: structural equation modeling

Mulusew G. Jebena; David Lindstrom; Tefera Belachew; Craig Hadley; Carl Lachat; Roos Verstraeten; Nathalie De Cock; Patrick Kolsteren

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165931

Food insecurity and common mental disorders among Ethiopian youth: structural equation modeling

Mulusew G. Jebena, David Lindstrom, Tefera Belachew, Craig Hadley, Carl Lachat, Roos Verstraeten, Nathalie De Cock, Patrick Kolsteren

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Abstract

Background

Although the consequences of food insecurity on physical health and nutritional status of youth living have been reported, its effect on their mental health remains less investigated in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the pathways through which food insecurity is associated with poor mental health status among youth living in Ethiopia.

Methods

We used data from Jimma Longitudinal Family Survey of Youth (JLFSY) collected in 2009/ 10. A total of 1,521 youth were included in the analysis. We measured food insecurity using a 5-items scale and common mental disorders using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Structural and generalized equation modeling using maximum likelihood estimation method was used to analyze the data.

Results

The prevalence of common mental disorders was 30.8% (95% CI: 28.6, 33.2). Food insecurity was independently associated with common mental disorders (beta = 0.323, P

Conclusions

Food insecurity is directly associated with common mental disorders among youth in Ethiopia. Interventions that aim to improve mental health status of youth should consider strategies to improve access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

Original language	English
Article number	0165931
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	11
Issue number	11
Number of pages	20
ISSN	1932-6203
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165931
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

SELF-REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE
FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE
DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES
SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA
WELFARE RECIPIENTS
FAMILY INCOME
JIMMA ZONE
HEALTH
INSUFFICIENCY
VALIDATION

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@article{6334c2a95e834159842d81394e09746f,

title = "Food insecurity and common mental disorders among Ethiopian youth: structural equation modeling",

abstract = "BackgroundAlthough the consequences of food insecurity on physical health and nutritional status of youth living have been reported, its effect on their mental health remains less investigated in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the pathways through which food insecurity is associated with poor mental health status among youth living in Ethiopia.MethodsWe used data from Jimma Longitudinal Family Survey of Youth (JLFSY) collected in 2009/ 10. A total of 1,521 youth were included in the analysis. We measured food insecurity using a 5-items scale and common mental disorders using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Structural and generalized equation modeling using maximum likelihood estimation method was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe prevalence of common mental disorders was 30.8% (95% CI: 28.6, 33.2). Food insecurity was independently associated with common mental disorders (beta = 0.323, PConclusionsFood insecurity is directly associated with common mental disorders among youth in Ethiopia. Interventions that aim to improve mental health status of youth should consider strategies to improve access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.",

keywords = "SELF-REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE, FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE, DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA, WELFARE RECIPIENTS, FAMILY INCOME, JIMMA ZONE, HEALTH, INSUFFICIENCY, VALIDATION",

author = "Jebena, {Mulusew G.} and David Lindstrom and Tefera Belachew and Craig Hadley and Carl Lachat and Roos Verstraeten and {De Cock}, Nathalie and Patrick Kolsteren",

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year = "2016",

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journal = "PLoS ONE",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Food insecurity and common mental disorders among Ethiopian youth: structural equation modeling

AU - Jebena, Mulusew G.

AU - Lindstrom, David

AU - Belachew, Tefera

AU - Hadley, Craig

AU - Lachat, Carl

AU - Verstraeten, Roos

AU - De Cock, Nathalie

AU - Kolsteren, Patrick

N1 - FTX; DOAJ

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - BackgroundAlthough the consequences of food insecurity on physical health and nutritional status of youth living have been reported, its effect on their mental health remains less investigated in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the pathways through which food insecurity is associated with poor mental health status among youth living in Ethiopia.MethodsWe used data from Jimma Longitudinal Family Survey of Youth (JLFSY) collected in 2009/ 10. A total of 1,521 youth were included in the analysis. We measured food insecurity using a 5-items scale and common mental disorders using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Structural and generalized equation modeling using maximum likelihood estimation method was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe prevalence of common mental disorders was 30.8% (95% CI: 28.6, 33.2). Food insecurity was independently associated with common mental disorders (beta = 0.323, PConclusionsFood insecurity is directly associated with common mental disorders among youth in Ethiopia. Interventions that aim to improve mental health status of youth should consider strategies to improve access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

AB - BackgroundAlthough the consequences of food insecurity on physical health and nutritional status of youth living have been reported, its effect on their mental health remains less investigated in developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the pathways through which food insecurity is associated with poor mental health status among youth living in Ethiopia.MethodsWe used data from Jimma Longitudinal Family Survey of Youth (JLFSY) collected in 2009/ 10. A total of 1,521 youth were included in the analysis. We measured food insecurity using a 5-items scale and common mental disorders using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Structural and generalized equation modeling using maximum likelihood estimation method was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe prevalence of common mental disorders was 30.8% (95% CI: 28.6, 33.2). Food insecurity was independently associated with common mental disorders (beta = 0.323, PConclusionsFood insecurity is directly associated with common mental disorders among youth in Ethiopia. Interventions that aim to improve mental health status of youth should consider strategies to improve access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

KW - SELF-REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE

KW - FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE

KW - DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

KW - SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

KW - WELFARE RECIPIENTS

KW - FAMILY INCOME

KW - JIMMA ZONE

KW - HEALTH

KW - INSUFFICIENCY

KW - VALIDATION

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0165931

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0165931

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 11

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

IS - 11

M1 - 0165931

ER -

Food insecurity and common mental disorders among Ethiopian youth: structural equation modeling

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Keywords

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