(P02-113-25) Associations Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health Among Young Adults Who Are Pregnant or Parenting

Objectives: Food security is a determinant of mental health, impacting the ability to cope with stressors. Both food insecurity and poor mental health disproportionately impact young mothers, yet the relationship between these constructs in this population is understudied. This study aimed to explore the association between food security and mental health among young adults who are pregnant or parenting young children.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey (3/2024-12/2024) was conducted among young adults (18-25 y) who were pregnant or had a young child in Oklahoma. Utilizing previously validated metrics for all constructs, items assessed food security, mental health, loneliness, diet quality, and pregnancy stigma. Participants were recruited through community partnerships (e.g., WIC clinics, pregnancy centers). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Squared/Fisher’s Exact Test, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests.

Results: Most participants (95.5%, n=42/44) reported an income below 185% of the federal poverty level. The mean age was 22.7±2.0. Overall, 63.6% reported having a child, 15.9% were pregnant, and 20.4% were both pregnant and had a child. Over half of participants (56.8%) experienced food insecurity and 62% consumed a minimum of 5 out of 10 recommended food groups. Participants experiencing food insecurity (FIS group) were more likely to report experiencing stigma during pregnancy than those who were food secure (83.3% vs 47.4%, p=0.03). Furthermore, the FIS group was also more likely to report experiencing clinically significant symptoms of depression than the FS group (48.0% vs 0.0%, p< 0.001). Food insecurity was associated with significantly more loneliness (p < 0.001), with the FIS group reporting loneliness more than 1.5 SDs above the national average.

Conclusions: Pregnancy stigma may be involved in the relationship between food insecurity and poor mental health among young adults who are pregnant and parenting. Settings supporting this population may benefit from incorporating information on resources related to food access and positive psychological coping. Efforts to reduce pregnancy stigma among young adults warrant exploration to improve mental health.

Funding Sources: Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences