Medical Xpress February 25, 2025
Food insecurity is a key driver of poor mental health in Hawaiʻi, according to a new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers.
Published in Frontiers in Public Health, the study analyzed data from 2,270 adults residing in Hawaiʻi, collected in 2022, to assess the impact of socioeconomic and demographic factors on mental health. Nearly 40% of participants reported symptoms of depression, 15% experienced low self-esteem and 4.2% had thoughts of suicide. Among the most significant predictors of poor mental health was food insecurity, which disproportionately affected individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
“These results highlight the critical role food security plays in shaping mental health outcomes,” said Ruben Juarez, paper co-lead and UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO)-HMSA Professor in...
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