Later Life Food Insecurity and Social Isolation in Ghana: The Importance of Psychological Factors
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Later Life Food Insecurity and Social Isolation in Ghana: The Importance of Psychological Factors. / Gyasi, Razak M; Phillips, David R; Aikins, Emelia; Peltzer, Karl; Accam, Burnett Tetteh; Frempong, Foster; Dwumah, Peter; Koomson-Yalley, Elizabeth Nana Mbrah; Asiedu, Hubert Bimpeh; Abass, Kabila; Hajek, André.
in: INT J GERIATR PSYCH, Jahrgang 39, Nr. 8, 08.2024, S. e6134.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Later Life Food Insecurity and Social Isolation in Ghana: The Importance of Psychological Factors
AU - Gyasi, Razak M
AU - Phillips, David R
AU - Aikins, Emelia
AU - Peltzer, Karl
AU - Accam, Burnett Tetteh
AU - Frempong, Foster
AU - Dwumah, Peter
AU - Koomson-Yalley, Elizabeth Nana Mbrah
AU - Asiedu, Hubert Bimpeh
AU - Abass, Kabila
AU - Hajek, André
N1 - © 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - BACKGROUND: Social isolation (SI) and food insecurity (FI) are important social determinants of health that can negatively impact well-being in old age. While research on the association between FI and SI is limited in LMICs, the mediators of this association are largely unknown. This cross-sectional study examined whether FI is associated with SI among older adults in Ghana and whether psychological factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and sleep problems) mediated the association.METHODS: Our study consisted of adults aged ≥50 years in the Aging, Health, Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study. SI was assessed with the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, while FI was assessed with dietary inadequacy-related items. We used an ordinary least squares regression (OLS), logistic regressions, and bootstrapping modeling approach to examine our hypotheses with p < 0.05.RESULTS: The analysis included 1201 individuals (Mage = 66 [SD = 12], women = 63%). In the full sample (β = 0.21; p < 0.001) and in women (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) but not in men, FI was independently associated with SI. FI was comparably associated with increases in SI for the 50-64 age group (β = 0.21, p < 0.001) and ≥65 age cohort (β = 0.19, p < 0.01). Moreover, FI showed differential associations with specific domains of SI (OR = 1.81 to 1.45, p < 0.001). Finally, the FI-SI association was mediated by depressive symptoms (65.16%), anxiety symptoms (30.16%), and sleep problems (9.50%).CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the fundamental role of FI in SI among older adults, and the effect is explained by psychosocial factors. Interventions targeted toward strengthening interpersonal ties in old age should include addressing FI and older adults' psychosocial outcomes.
AB - BACKGROUND: Social isolation (SI) and food insecurity (FI) are important social determinants of health that can negatively impact well-being in old age. While research on the association between FI and SI is limited in LMICs, the mediators of this association are largely unknown. This cross-sectional study examined whether FI is associated with SI among older adults in Ghana and whether psychological factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and sleep problems) mediated the association.METHODS: Our study consisted of adults aged ≥50 years in the Aging, Health, Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study. SI was assessed with the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, while FI was assessed with dietary inadequacy-related items. We used an ordinary least squares regression (OLS), logistic regressions, and bootstrapping modeling approach to examine our hypotheses with p < 0.05.RESULTS: The analysis included 1201 individuals (Mage = 66 [SD = 12], women = 63%). In the full sample (β = 0.21; p < 0.001) and in women (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) but not in men, FI was independently associated with SI. FI was comparably associated with increases in SI for the 50-64 age group (β = 0.21, p < 0.001) and ≥65 age cohort (β = 0.19, p < 0.01). Moreover, FI showed differential associations with specific domains of SI (OR = 1.81 to 1.45, p < 0.001). Finally, the FI-SI association was mediated by depressive symptoms (65.16%), anxiety symptoms (30.16%), and sleep problems (9.50%).CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the fundamental role of FI in SI among older adults, and the effect is explained by psychosocial factors. Interventions targeted toward strengthening interpersonal ties in old age should include addressing FI and older adults' psychosocial outcomes.
KW - Humans
KW - Female
KW - Male
KW - Ghana
KW - Aged
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Food Insecurity
KW - Social Isolation/psychology
KW - Depression/psychology
KW - Anxiety/psychology
KW - Sleep Wake Disorders/psychology
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Logistic Models
U2 - 10.1002/gps.6134
DO - 10.1002/gps.6134
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 39168834
VL - 39
SP - e6134
JO - INT J GERIATR PSYCH
JF - INT J GERIATR PSYCH
SN - 0885-6230
IS - 8
ER -