Does social support modify the relationship between food insecurity and poor mental health? Evidence from thirty-nine sub-Saharan African countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The present study aimed to determine the relationship among food insecurity, social support and mental well-being in sub-Saharan Africa, a region presenting the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity and a critical scarcity of mental health care.

Design

Food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Social support was assessed using dichotomous indicators of perceived, foreign perceived, received, given, integrative and emotional support. The Negative and Positive Experience Indices (NEI and PEI) were used as indicators of mental well-being. Multilevel mixed-effect linear models were applied to examine the associations between mental well-being and food security status, social support and their interaction, respectively, accou

SUBMITTER: Na M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8906283 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature