(OR26-05-26) Persistent Household Food Insecurity and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Among Latinas at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI), depression and anxiety are known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. FI can be transient, but short-term relationships between FI and symptoms of depression and anxiety are not described.

Objective: to investigate the between- and within-person relationships between FI and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Methods: Micro-longitudinal study design. Inclusion: 18-44 years old, Latina, receiving SNAP benefits, positive 2-item screen for FI, and with high risk for type 2 diabetes. Data were collected at six time points over three months. FI was assessed using a 15-item adapted and validated version of the original USDA18-item. Depressive symptoms were measured with the 8 item Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). Anxiety symptoms were assessed with the 8-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). A multilevel regression tested whether FI was associated with depression and anxiety between persons and within persons across time.

Results: There was a total of 76 participants with an average age of 35.4 (SD=5.8). Nearly half only spoke Spanish (47.4%), two-thirds had no formal schooling (67.1%), half were unemployed (52.6%) and most had a monthly household income below $1000 (63.2%). Thirty-three (43.4%) participants were persistent food secure throughout the study, 31 (40.8%) intermittent FI, and 12 (15.8%) persistent FI; 11.5% had a PHQ score >=10 and 8.0% had a PROMIS T-score >=60. Compared to those experiencing persistent food security or intermittent FI, those experiencing persistent FI reported higher symptoms of depression and anxiety overall. Within persons, when FI score was higher than an individual's own average, symptoms of anxiety and depression were also higher. Between-person associations were approximately twice the magnitude of within-person associations.

Conclusions: FI is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety at the between- and within-person levels. Overall levels of depression and anxiety differ by persistence of FI. Repeated and/or prolonged exposures to FI and associated distress should be examined as risk factors for incident type 2 diabetes.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.