Maude Bradette-Laplante1, Yohann Courtemanche1, Mireille Desrochers-Couture1, Nadine Forget-Dubois1, Richard E Bélanger1,2, Pierre Ayotte1,3,4, Joseph L Jacobson5, Sandra W Jacobson5, Gina Muckle1,6. 1. Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Canada. 2. Département de Pédiatrie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. 3. Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada. 4. Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. 6. École de Psychologie, Université Laval, QuébecG1V 0A6, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at measuring the association between household food insecurity and psychological distress in adolescents in Inuit communities, concurrently and overtime from childhood to adolescence. DESIGN: The study used measures of internalising behaviours (anxiety, withdrawn attitude, somatic complaints and depression) as indicators of psychological distress during adolescence, a concurrent measure of household food insecurity in adolescence and an assessment of longitudinal patterns of household food insecurity from childhood to adolescence. We collected descriptive information at birth, childhood and adolescence on potential confounders. SETTING: Inuit communities of Nunavik in northern Quebec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: The study consisted of 212 participants from the Nunavik Child Development Study, who have been assessed at birth, childhood (mean age = 11 years, range = 9-13 years) and adolescence (mean age = 18 years, range = 16-21 years). RESULTS: Concurrent severe household food insecurity in adolescence was associated with higher measures of psychological distress: depression (βstd = 0·26, P < 0·01) and withdrawn attitude (βstd = 0·20, P = 0·04). Persistent household food insecurity (both at childhood and adolescence) was associated with higher levels of adolescent depression (βstd = 0·18, P = 0·02) and anxiety (βstd = 0·17, P = 0·03). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents from Nunavik living with higher food insecurity and those having experienced food insecurity in both childhood and adolescence were more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress. Considering the high level of distress experienced by young Inuit, existing initiatives to reduce food insecurity in Nunavik communities should be targeted to include children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at measuring the association between household food insecurity and psychological distress in adolescents in Inuit communities, concurrently and overtime from childhood to adolescence. DESIGN: The study used measures of internalising behaviours (anxiety, withdrawn attitude, somatic complaints and depression) as indicators of psychological distress during adolescence, a concurrent measure of household food insecurity in adolescence and an assessment of longitudinal patterns of household food insecurity from childhood to adolescence. We collected descriptive information at birth, childhood and adolescence on potential confounders. SETTING: Inuit communities of Nunavik in northern Quebec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: The study consisted of 212 participants from the Nunavik Child Development Study, who have been assessed at birth, childhood (mean age = 11 years, range = 9-13 years) and adolescence (mean age = 18 years, range = 16-21 years). RESULTS: Concurrent severe household food insecurity in adolescence was associated with higher measures of psychological distress: depression (βstd = 0·26, P < 0·01) and withdrawn attitude (βstd = 0·20, P = 0·04). Persistent household food insecurity (both at childhood and adolescence) was associated with higher levels of adolescent depression (βstd = 0·18, P = 0·02) and anxiety (βstd = 0·17, P = 0·03). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents from Nunavik living with higher food insecurity and those having experienced food insecurity in both childhood and adolescence were more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress. Considering the high level of distress experienced by young Inuit, existing initiatives to reduce food insecurity in Nunavik communities should be targeted to include children and adolescents.
Authors: Wayne Clark; Josée G Lavoie; Leah Mcdonnell; Nathan Nickel; Jack Anawak; Levinia Brown; Grace Clark; Maata Evaluardjuk-Palmer; Frederick Ford; Rachel Dutton; Sabrina Wong; Julianne Sanguins; Alan Katz Journal: Int J Circumpolar Health Date: 2022-12 Impact factor: 1.941
Authors: Carmen H Logie; Candice L Lys; Nina Sokolovic; Kayley Inuksuk Mackay; Holly Donkers; Amanda Kanbari; Sherri Pooyak; Charlotte Loppie Journal: Glob Ment Health (Camb) Date: 2021-06-24