Cross-sectional association of food insecurity with loneliness in older adults: The role of sex, age, and psychosomatic factors
Por:
Gyasi RM, Aikins E, Hajek A, Opoku-Ware J, Osei BA, Kwabena-Adade J, Jacob L., Rahmati M, Dakurah G and Peltzer K
Publicada:
1 sep 2024
Ahead of Print:
1 ago 2024
Resumen:
Objective: Food insecurity (FI) is a critical social determinant of poor psychosocial health. While data on the specific roles of sex and age in the FI-loneliness link among older adults are limited, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study examines the age-sex-specific associations of FI with loneliness among older adults in Ghana and quantifies the extent to which psychosomatic factors mediate the association. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Aging, Health, Psychological, and Health-seeking Behavior Study in Ghana. The past 30-day FI was assessed using items on hunger and breakfast skipping frequency due to a lack of resources. We assessed loneliness severity with the University of California, Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale. Multivariable OLS regressions and bootstrapping mediation analysis using the Hayes PROCESS macro plug-in were used to evaluate the associations. Results: We included 1,201 individuals aged >= 50 years (mean = 62.9 [SD = 11.9]; women = 63.3%). The prevalence of loneliness was 17.7%. The prevalence of moderate and severe FI was 44.0% and 8.5%, respectively. In the adjusted model, greater FI was significantly associated with loneliness severity (B = .22, SE = .029, p < .001). We found significant interactive effects of FI x age (B = -.17, SE = .023, p < .01) and FI x sex (B = -.28, SE = .036, p < .001) on loneliness. Thus, the FI-loneliness link was respectively more marked among women (B = .25, SE = .035, p < .001) and >= 65 age groups (B = .34, SE = .041, p < .001) than men (B = .16, SE = .051, p < .01) and those aged 50-64 (B = .22; SE = .040, p < .001). Finally, comorbid depression/anxiety (41.07%), hopelessness (48.6%), worthlessness (42.1%), functional limitations (8.2%), and pain severity (6.4%) mediated the FI-loneliness association. Conclusions: Age- and sex-specific associations between FI and loneliness exist among older Ghanaians. Addressing FI in concert with psychosomatic problems in older adults may contribute meaningfully to reducing loneliness in later life.
Filiaciones:
Gyasi RM:
African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
Aikins E:
Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Hajek A:
Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany
Opoku-Ware J:
Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Osei BA:
Department of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Kwabena-Adade J:
Department of General and Liberal Studies, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
Jacob L.:
Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
AP-HP, Université Paris Cité, Lariboisière-Fernand Widal Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75010 Paris, France
Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153, Epidemiology of Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases (EpiAgeing), 75010 Paris, France
Rahmati M:
CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
Dakurah G:
Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Peltzer K:
Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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