Energy Insecurity and Mental Health Symptoms in US Adults

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Energy insecurity, defined as the inability to meet household energy needs, is a growing concern in the US.
• The national-scale mental health impacts of energy insecurity are not well understood.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for developing targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between energy insecurity and symptoms of depression and anxiety in the US adult population.
• To quantify the mental health consequences of lacking adequate household energy.
• To inform public health strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of energy insecurity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized repeated cross-sectional, nationally representative survey data from the US Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey (December 2022 - September 2024).
• Assessed energy insecurity through components like inability to pay energy bills, maintaining unhealthy home temperatures, and forgoing necessities for energy costs.
• Employed validated questionnaires for depression and anxiety symptoms, analyzed using weighted logistic regressions adjusted for sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of US adults (43.3%) reported experiencing at least one component of energy insecurity.
• Energy-insecure individuals demonstrated higher odds of reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to their counterparts.
• After adjusting for social determinants of health, energy insecurity showed a strong association with increased odds of anxiety (OR, 2.29) and depression (OR, 2.31).

Conclusions:

• Energy insecurity is significantly associated with adverse mental health symptoms, including depression and anxiety, among US adults.
• Given the projected increase in household energy insecurity, these findings underscore the urgency for policy interventions.
• The study provides critical evidence to guide policymakers in shaping federally funded assistance programs to address energy insecurity and its mental health consequences.