Food Insecurity and Loneliness in the Former Soviet Countries.
Andrew Stickley1,2,3, Naoki Kondo2, Tomiki Sumiyoshi3
1Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Sodertorn University, Huddinge, Sweden.
International Journal of Public Health
|November 3, 2025
Summary
Food insecurity is linked to increased loneliness among adults in former Soviet Union countries. Addressing food security may improve overall well-being in these populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Social Epidemiology
- Global Health
Background:
- Food insecurity (FI) is a growing concern in former Soviet Union (FSU) countries.
- Loneliness is a significant public health issue with widespread implications for well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between food insecurity and loneliness in adults residing in FSU nations.
- To determine if the relationship between food insecurity and loneliness varies across different demographic subgroups and countries within the FSU region.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 15,568 adults surveyed in the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) study (2010-2011) across nine FSU countries.
- Utilized single-item measures for food insecurity and loneliness.
- Employed logistic regression, including fully adjusted and stratified analyses by sex and age, to examine associations.
Main Results:
- Both moderate (OR: 1.35) and severe food insecurity (OR: 1.94) were significantly associated with higher odds of loneliness in the pooled FSU sample.
- Severe food insecurity showed a consistent association with loneliness across all sex and age subgroups.
- Food insecurity was associated with loneliness in six out of the nine studied FSU countries.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between food insecurity and loneliness in countries of the former Soviet Union.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing food security could play a crucial role in mitigating loneliness and improving the psychological well-being of adults in the FSU.
- Findings highlight the interconnectedness of nutritional status and mental health in post-transition economies.
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