Food Insecurity and Loneliness in the Former Soviet Countries

TL;DR

This study finds that people in former Soviet countries who struggle with food insecurity are more likely to feel lonely.

Contribution

The study is the first to explore the link between food insecurity and loneliness in the former Soviet Union.

Findings

Moderate and severe food insecurity are linked to higher odds of loneliness.

Severe food insecurity is associated with loneliness across all demographic subgroups.

The association is observed in six out of nine countries studied.

Abstract

To examine the association between food insecurity (FI) and loneliness in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU).

Data were analysed from 15,568 adults in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine, collected in the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) survey in 2010–2011. Information was obtained on both FI and loneliness with single-item measures. Logistic regression was used to examine associations.

In a fully adjusted analysis, moderate (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16–1.57) and severe FI (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.58–2.38) were associated with significantly higher odds of loneliness in the pooled sample. In sex- and age-stratified analyses, severe FI was associated with loneliness in all population subgroups, with odds ratios ranging from 1.69 to 1.99. However, moderate FI was linked to loneliness in only three of the five subgroups. In further analyses, FI was associated with loneliness in six of the nine countries.

FI is associated with loneliness in FSU countries. Efforts to increase food security in these countries may be important for improving physical and psychological well-being among adults in the general population.