Higher prevalence of child and adolescent mental health problems in food-insecure Canadian homes

Abstract

The socioeconomic context significantly influences child and adolescent development and mental health. One key socioeconomic indicator is food insecurity, defined as inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. In a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019, researchers observed that one in every nine Canadian children live in food-insecure households. This research found that the odds of a range of mental health problems are higher in food-insecure households, including poor general mental health, mood and anxiety disorders, developmental disorders, suicidality, and cannabis use. The associations persisted even after adjusting for the family’s socioeconomic indicators.