Food insecurity and insomnia-related symptoms among adults from low- and middle-income countries.
J Sleep Res
; 32(4): e13852, 2023 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36808652
ABSTRACT
Little is known about the relationship between food insecurity and sleep problems in low- and middle-income countries, while the mediators of this association are largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the association between food insecurity and insomnia-related symptoms in six low- and middle-income countries (i.e., China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa), and the potential mediators of this relationship. Cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (2007-2010) were analysed. Past 12-month food insecurity was assessed with two questions on the frequency of eating less, and on hunger owing to a lack of food. Insomnia-related symptoms referred to severe or extreme sleep problems in the past 30 days. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analysis were conducted. Data on 42,489 adults aged ≥18 years were analysed (mean [standard deviation] age 43.8 [14.4] years; 50.1% females). The prevalence of any food insecurity and insomnia-related symptoms was 11.9% and 4.4%, respectively. After adjustment, compared with no food insecurity, moderate (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-2.10) and severe food insecurity (odds ratio = 2.35, 95% confidence interval = 1.56-3.55) were significantly associated with insomnia-related symptoms. Anxiety, perceived stress, and depression mediated 27.7%, 13.5%, and 12.5% of the relationship between any food insecurity and insomnia-related symptoms, respectively (total percentage = 43.3%). Food insecurity was positively associated with insomnia-related symptoms in adults from six low- and middle-income countries. Anxiety, perceived stress, and depression explained a substantial proportion of this relationship. Addressing food insecurity itself or the identified potential mediators among people with food insecurity may lead to a reduction in sleep problems among adults in low- and middle-income countries, pending confirmation with longitudinal studies.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
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Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
J Sleep Res
Journal subject:
PSICOFISIOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain