Food Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms Among Persons With Diabetes in the United States: Findings From the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine whether food insecurity increases risk for depressive symptoms among adults with diabetes. Food insecurity is associated with depression in the general population. However, minimal research has examined this relationship among persons with diabetes.Methods Adults with diabetes were identified from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Food insecurity status was measured with the USDA 10-item food insecurity scale. Participants were categorized as food secure, low food security, and very low food security. The association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms was examined using weighted logistic regression, adjusting for potentially influential covariates (age, sex, ethnicity, poverty to income ratio, education, diabetes type, body mass index, region, and general health).Results Among 2595 persons with diabetes, nearly one third (29.8%) reported symptoms of depression. Over one tenth (11.7%) had low or very low food security. Persons who had low or very low food security were more than twice as likely to report depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.15, 95% CI, 1.39-3.32; AOR = 3.84, 95% CI, 2.28-6.45, respectively). Persons who were older, had higher income, and better general health were less likely to report depressive symptoms.Conclusions Among adults with diabetes, low or very low food security was associated with increased risk for depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms among persons with diabetes.