Midlife Vulnerability and Food Insecurity in Women: Increased Risk of Mental Health Concerns
Lisa Smith Kilpela1, Taylur Loera1, Sabrina E Cuauro2
1Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH Center), Department of Medicine, Lozano-Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Nutrients
|August 14, 2025
Summary
Women in early and late midlife experiencing food insecurity (FI) reported higher anxiety and eating disorder symptoms. Midlife may be a vulnerable period for women facing the mental health impacts of food insecurity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Food insecurity (FI) is linked to increased mental health issues and nutritional deficits.
- Understanding at-risk subpopulations experiencing FI-related mental health concerns is crucial.
- This study investigated psychosocial health in women across different life stages with FI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine psychosocial health variations among women of different developmental life stages living with food insecurity.
- To identify specific life stages with heightened mental health risks within the context of FI.
- To inform targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 680 female clients at an urban food bank.
- Participants completed measures of mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
- Analysis compared women across four life stages (young adult, early midlife, late midlife, older adult), controlling for FI severity and race/ethnicity.
Main Results:
- Food insecurity severity correlated with poorer psychosocial health outcomes.
- Women in early and late midlife reported significantly higher anxiety and eating disorder symptoms compared to younger and older women.
- Midlife women also showed greater eating-related psychosocial impairment.
Conclusions:
- The mental health burden of food insecurity is significant for women.
- Midlife appears to be a period of increased vulnerability to the mental health impacts of FI.
- Developing multilevel interventions to support midlife women facing FI is essential.
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