Mental health, water, and food: Relationships between water and food insecurity and probable depression amongst adults in Mexico.

Abstract

Background: Water and food insecurity often co-occur, and have independently been identified as potential risk factors for poor mental health. Their interlinkages are only just beginning to be explored; even less is known about how the relationships vary by gender. Understanding the independent associations of water and food insecurity with mental health, as well as their joint effects, can help identify which interventions might be most appropriate for improving health.

Methods: We explored how probable depression covaried with water and food insecurity using nationally representative data from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2021 (ENSANUT 2021, n = 13,126). Cross-sectional data were collected on household water, food insecurity, and probable depression amongst adults were collected. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association of water and food insecurity with moderate-to-severe probable depression: and we stratified the models by sex.

Results: Household water insecurity was associated with higher odds of probable depression amongst women (1.37 OR, CI: 1.13-1.66) and men (1.30 OR, CI: 0.92-1.83). When controlling for household food insecurity, the association between probable depression and water insecurity was no longer important, however, household food insecurity was associated with higher odds of probable depression. Those experiencing joint water and food insecurity had the highest odds of probable depression (2.70 OR, CI: 2.13-3.40). The associations between water insecurity, food insecurity and mental health did not differ by sex.

Conclusion: Concurrent water and food insecurity increase the likelihood of probable depression amongst both men and women. Strategies to mitigate both resource insecurities could improve mental health.