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Lookup NU author(s): Joanne Smith, Dr Grant McGeechan, Amy Lake, Dr Steph Scott, Dr Emma Giles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 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.
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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