Food insecurity & dietary restraint in a diverse urban population.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate self-reported reasons for engaging in dietary restraint (DR) in a food insecure urban population. It also tested whether DR was associated with increased eating disorder (ED) pathology when DR was broadly assessed. The initial sample (N = 503) consisted of adult clients visiting food pantries who completed the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale for DSM 5, the Radimer Cornell Food Insecurity Measure, and three items from the DR subscale of Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q); EDE-Q items were modified to allow participants to explain why they restricted. Analyses included participants (N = 259) who responded to one of the modified EDE-Q questions. Results indicated that participants engaged in DR for several reasons, including minimizing the effect of hunger for other family members (i.e., children), "stretching" food to make it last longer, and prioritizing medical expenses. Intentional efforts to limit food intake in this sample were correlated with increased ED pathology. Although it is not surprising that adults experiencing food insecurity engage in intentional DR, this study adds important information about why food insecure adults engage in DR and highlights the importance of assessing DR for reasons other than weight and shape concerns.

Eating disorder pathology in a sample of midlife and older adults experiencing food insecurity.

Researchers have recently identified food insecurity (FI) as a risk factor for eating disorder pathology (EDP). Yet, associations between FI and EDP remain understudied in midlife and older adults. The current study is a descriptive and exploratory re-analysis of Becker et al. (2017, 2019), investigating prevalence rates of EDP and differences in EDP between midlife and older adult food bank clients. Additionally, we examined the relations between FI severity and EDP in each age group. Participants included 292 midlife (51-65 years) and 267 older adults (66+) who were clients of a local foodbank. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire inquiring about FI, EDP, and demographic information. Overall, 8.9 % of respondents had a probable eating disorder (10.5 % of midlife adults, 5.6 % of older adults). Binge eating was the most endorsed EDP. Significantly more midlife adults reported night eating and skipping ≥two meals in a row versus older adults. Additionally, FI severity level was associated with higher risk of night eating, BE, skipping ≥two meals in a row, and laxative use in midlife adults. These same associations were significant for older adults, with the addition of vomiting and exception of laxative use. Evidently, the relations between FI and EDP seen in younger populations extends into mid and late-life, with minimal differences between midlife and older adults living with FI. It is imperative that we intentionally include midlife and older adults in FI and EDP research, investigating how best to address disordered eating across the lifespan within the context of experiencing FI.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health correlates in a predominantly Latino/Hispanic sample living with food insecurity.

OBJECTIVE: Food insecurity (FI) is a global public health concern that is associated with psychopathology, including depression and anxiety. Individuals living with social disadvantages, such as experiencing low SES or being part of minoritized populations, are at higher risk of developing lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following trauma exposure. Yet relatively little is known about PTSD prevalence rates and the potential mental health burden in populations with FI. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rates and characteristics of PTSD and associated mental health burdens in a low SES, predominantly Latino/Hispanic sample with FI in the United States. METHOD: The study utilized self-report surveys in a cross-sectional design. Participants included 891 clients of a local urban food bank. RESULTS: In this sample, 45.8% reported experiencing one or more traumatic events and 17.4% met the clinical cutoff for PTSD. These results indicate that, while rates of traumatic event exposure are comparable to the general population, those experiencing FI report higher rates of PTSD. Of those with PTSD, 72.3% met the clinical cutoff for generalized anxiety disorder, 69% for depression, and 25.8% for an eating disorder (ED). Furthermore, PTSD symptom severity accounted for 43.6%, 29.6%, and 18.7% of the variance in linear regression models for depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and ED pathology, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The compounding mental health consequences of experiencing FI, PTSD, and other psychopathology needs further investigation. Moreover, affordable and accessible treatment models are imperative to address the needs of this low-SES population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Sexual trauma uniquely associated with eating disorders: A replication study.

Objective: Extensive research supports the contention that trauma exposure is a nonspecific risk factor for the development of eating disorders (EDs). Limited research has investigated the relative association of diverse types of traumatic events with EDs in the same statistical model. In a recent exception, Breland et al. (2018) found that only sexual trauma predicted ED pathology among female veterans when both sexual trauma and combat exposure were examined simultaneously, even though combat exposure alone had been previously identified as an ED risk factor. Given the current replication crisis in psychology, it is important to investigate if this finding replicates in different populations. This study investigated whether results from Breland et al. (2018) would (a) replicate in a distinct population (i.e., participants living with food insecurity) and (b) hold when 3 additional traumatic events were included in the statistical model. Method: We hypothesized that self-reported sexual trauma would be uniquely associated with ED pathology as compared to combat exposure, wreck/crash/accident, serious body-related accident, and life-threatening illness or injury. Results: Using a cross-sectional logistic regression model, sexual trauma was the only independent predictor of EDs in the model, thus replicating the findings of Breland et al. (2018) in a different population. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of (a) investigating multiple traumatic events in the same statistical models and (b) careful screening of traumatic events in patients presenting with EDs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).