Food insecurity is associated with depression and diabetes among sexual minority adults: A preliminary analysis of syndemic effects

TY - ABST

T1 - Food insecurity is associated with depression and diabetes among sexual minority adults

T2 - AAA 2022 - the American Anthropological Association's Annual Meeting

AU - Gibb, James K

AU - McKerracher, Luseadra Joy

N1 - Session ID: 3-530 Session Date and Time: Friday, November 11, 2022 04:15 PM to 06:00 PM Session Title: Unsettling Landscapes Of Biocultural Variation: Where Methods, Mechanisms, And Theory Collide (Pt.2) Session Type: Oral Presentation Session Modality*: In-Person Invited by: Evolutionary Anthropology Society

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the public health measures put in place to control COVID-19 transmissions (e.g., social distancing, self-isolation) is heterogenous, with greater consequences among populations experiencing social, economic, and political marginalization, including members of the 2-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, (2SLGBTQ+) community. Methods: Using a biocultural approach, we examine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from a mixed methods study of 455 self-identified 2SLGBTQ+ adults living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, collected from March 2021 to July 2021. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey including measures of psychological distress and minority stress. A subset of participants (n =50) completed a semi-structured qualitative interview to contextualize their mental health experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Bivariate analysis revealed that self-reported anxiety (P= 0.029), depression (P = 0.001), perceived stress (P = 0.002), and somatic symptom scores (P = 0.014) were elevated among participants who reported living with family during the pandemic. These differences persisted in regression analysis adjusting for sexual identity, gender expression, race/ethnicity, age, citizenship, education, household size, and income. Discussion: Our findings offer important insights that will enable Toronto and other Canadian public health agencies to better respond to the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ and other vulnerable communities during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises.

AB - Background: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the public health measures put in place to control COVID-19 transmissions (e.g., social distancing, self-isolation) is heterogenous, with greater consequences among populations experiencing social, economic, and political marginalization, including members of the 2-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, (2SLGBTQ+) community. Methods: Using a biocultural approach, we examine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from a mixed methods study of 455 self-identified 2SLGBTQ+ adults living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, collected from March 2021 to July 2021. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey including measures of psychological distress and minority stress. A subset of participants (n =50) completed a semi-structured qualitative interview to contextualize their mental health experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Bivariate analysis revealed that self-reported anxiety (P= 0.029), depression (P = 0.001), perceived stress (P = 0.002), and somatic symptom scores (P = 0.014) were elevated among participants who reported living with family during the pandemic. These differences persisted in regression analysis adjusting for sexual identity, gender expression, race/ethnicity, age, citizenship, education, household size, and income. Discussion: Our findings offer important insights that will enable Toronto and other Canadian public health agencies to better respond to the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ and other vulnerable communities during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

Y2 - 9 November 2022 through 13 November 2022

ER -