[Factors related to diet quality among public assistance recipients]

Objectives　This study aimed to identify factors associated with diet quality among public assistance recipients. Specifically, the study examined the impact of basic attributes and social isolation (emotional support, instrumental support, face-to-face contact, and non-face-to-face contact) on diet quality.Methods　The participants of this survey were 1,878 public assistance recipients within the jurisdiction of the Public Health and Welfare Center, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, as of October 1, 2023. As an indicator of diet quality, the "Diet Quality Score for Japanese (DQSJ)" was used, calculated using a 12-item simplified questionnaire. Data on DQSJ scores and social support were collected from the participants, whereas basic attributes, including sex, age, household size, household type, and employment status, were obtained from the public assistance system. Participants were classified into low- and high-DQSJ groups based on the median DQSJ score, and a descriptive analysis was conducted to assess its association with basic attributes and social support. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between covariates and high-DQSJ status.Results　Responses were obtained from 485 participants (25.8%), who formed the analysis cohort. The group comprised 256 females (52.8%) and 229 males (47.2%), with a mean age of 55.3 years and a median DQSJ score of 10.5. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for covariates revealed that males (reference: females) had significantly lower odds of belonging to the high-DQSJ group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43-0.89). Emotional support was significantly associated with higher odds of being in the high-DQSJ group (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.30), while a stronger association was observed for instrumental support (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.52-3.58). Conversely, no statistically significant associations were observed between face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact.Conclusion　This study suggests that emotional and instrumental support are important factors that contribute to improved diet quality among public assistance recipients. However, face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact did not directly impact diet quality. These findings indicate that strengthening emotional and instrumental support is effective in enhancing diet quality among public assistance recipients.