The mitigating role of social capital on the association between food insecurity and psychological distress among Chinese adults.

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

International Journal of Social Psychiatry Pub Date : 2024-12-01 Epub Date: 2024-09-04 DOI:10.1177/00207640241277152

Xiang Qi, Yaolin Pei, Gen Li, Yuming Liu, Weiming Tang, Brian J Hall, Bei Wu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity, a pervasive global issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes. However, the role of social capital in mitigating this relationship remains understudied, particularly in the Chinese context.

Aims: This study investigated the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and examined the potential moderating effects of bonding and bridging social capital among Chinese adults in Shanghai.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3,220 Chinese adults (mean age: 34.45; 51.5% male) in Shanghai. Food insecurity was assessed using the modified Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and social capital was evaluated using the Revised Personal Social Capital Scale.

Results: Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that food insecurity was significantly positively associated with both depressive (β = 0.449, SE = 0.024) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.391, SE = 0.022), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and COVID-19-related factors. Higher levels of bonding and bridging social capital were significantly associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Significant interactions (p < .001) between bonding social capital and food insecurity indicated that the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress were less pronounced among adults with higher bonding social capital.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical role of food insecurity as a risk factor for psychological distress and the importance of bonding social capital in mitigating its impact on mental health. Policies and interventions targeting food insecurity prevention and bonding social capital enhancement may promote better mental health outcomes among Chinese adults.

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社会资本对中国成年人粮食不安全与心理困扰之间关系的缓解作用。

背景：粮食不安全是一个普遍存在的全球性问题，COVID-19 的流行加剧了这一问题，粮食不安全与不良的心理健康结果有关。目的：本研究调查了食物不安全与心理困扰（抑郁症状和焦虑症状）之间的关系，并研究了上海中国成年人中纽带型和桥梁型社会资本的潜在调节作用：这项横断面研究纳入了 3220 名上海的中国成年人（平均年龄：34.45 岁；51.5% 为男性）。结果：多变量线性回归分析结果显示，上海中国成年人的社会资本中，纽带型社会资本和桥梁型社会资本的比例分别为 0.5%和 0.5%：多变量线性回归分析表明，在对社会人口特征、健康状况和 COVID-19 相关因素进行调整后，粮食不安全与抑郁症状（β = 0.449，SE = 0.024）和焦虑症状（β = 0.391，SE = 0.022）呈显著正相关。较高水平的纽带型社会资本和桥梁型社会资本与较少的抑郁症状和焦虑症状明显相关。显著的交互作用（p这些发现强调了粮食不安全作为心理困扰风险因素的关键作用，以及纽带型社会资本在减轻其对心理健康影响方面的重要性。针对预防粮食不安全和增强纽带型社会资本的政策和干预措施可能会促进中国成年人获得更好的心理健康结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Social Psychiatry PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

1.30%

发文量

120

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities. Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas. The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.