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Food insecurity in adults with severe mental illness living in Northern England: A co-produced cross-sectional study

Lookup NU author(s): Joanne Smith, Dr Grant McGeechan, Amy Lake, Dr Steph Scott, Dr Emma Giles

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2024 The Authors. Nutrition & Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Dietitians Australia.Aim: This study aimed to explore food insecurity prevalence and experiences of adults with severe mental illness living in Northern England. Methods: This mixed-methods cross-sectional study took place between March and October 2022. Participants were adults with self-reported severe mental illness living in Northern England. The survey included demographic, health, and financial questions. Food insecurity was measured using the US Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security measure. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression; and qualitative data using content analysis. Results: In total, 135 participants completed the survey, with a mean age of 44.7 years (SD: 14.1, range: 18–75 years). Participants were predominantly male (53.3%), white (88%) and from Yorkshire (50.4%). The food insecurity prevalence was 50.4% (n = 68). There was statistical significance in food insecurity status by region (p = 0.001); impacts of severe mental illness on activities of daily living (p = 0.02); and the Covid pandemic on food access (p < 0.001). The North West had the highest prevalence of food insecurity (73.3%); followed by the Humber and North East regions (66.7%); and Yorkshire (33.8%). In multivariable binary logistic regression, severe mental illness' impact on daily living was the only predictive variable for food insecurity (odds ratio = 4.618, 95% confidence interval: 1.071–19.924, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity in this study is higher than is reported in similar studies (41%). Mental health practitioners should routinely assess and monitor food insecurity in people living with severe mental illness. Further research should focus on food insecurity interventions in this population.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Smith J, Eskandari F, McGeechan GJ, Teasdale SB, Lake AA, Ker S, Williamson K, Augustine A, Sauvage NL, Lynch C, Moore H, Scott S, Ekers D, Whittaker V, Robinson J, Giles EL

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nutrition and Dietetics

Year: 2024

Volume: 81

Issue: 4

Pages: 411-424

Print publication date: 01/09/2024

Online publication date: 12/03/2024

Acceptance date: 05/02/2024

Date deposited: 25/03/2024

ISSN (print): 1446-6368

ISSN (electronic): 1747-0080

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Inc

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12868

DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12868

Data Access Statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
NIHR203466
NIHR
Research for Patient Benefit Programme

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