Maternal Mental Health Mediates the Relationship Between Household Food Insecurity and Early Child Development in Brazil

Abstract

Background: Optimal early child development (ECD) is fundamental for every child to achieve their developmental potential and thrive. Household food insecurity (HFI) is a risk factor for suboptimal development, but there is still a need to better understand the pathways that explain this relationship. Objective: To evaluate whether maternal mental health and infant’s diet mediate the association between HFI and ECD using structural equation modeling. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 474 mother–infant dyads. Mothers answered a questionnaire that evaluated variables through validated instruments. Structural equation modeling analyses were conducted to obtain standardized effects (β) and bias-corrected 95% CI, enabling comparisons between the magnitude of the effects. The following observed variables were included: HFI, ECD, consumption of a healthy and diverse diet, the presence of a partner in the household, wanted pregnancy, and current breastfeeding. Latent variables were included to evaluate mental health, poverty, and neonatal health. Results: Poor maternal mental health mediated the relationship between HFI and ECD (β = −.05), but a healthy and diverse diet was not a mediator in this relationship. Poverty was related to lower development scores directly (β = .21) and indirectly (β = .02). Not having a partner (β = .05) and having an unwanted pregnancy (β = .02) predicted indirectly lower development scores. Conclusions: Poor maternal mental health mediates the relationship between HFI and ECD, and ECD is influenced by poverty, single motherhood, and unwanted pregnancy through different pathways. Therefore, public policies and interventions that aim to promote an optimal ECD should also approach these aspects.

Socio-demographic, maternal, and infant characteristics associated with pacifier use among six-months old infants in Clark County, Nevada

“…Food insecurity, defined as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food” [ 40 ], can cause nutrient deficiencies that can affect the health of both the caregiver and the child [ 41 ]. In turn, food insecurity is a chronic stressor that can lead to mental health issues for the caregiver, such as anxiety and depression, which can affect parenting skills and the ability to provide nurturing care to their infant [ 42 ]. An emotionally distressed caregiver may be more likely to introduce a pacifier [ 42 , 43 ] rather than finding alternative soothing methods to calm a fussy baby.…”

“…In turn, food insecurity is a chronic stressor that can lead to mental health issues for the caregiver, such as anxiety and depression, which can affect parenting skills and the ability to provide nurturing care to their infant [ 42 ]. An emotionally distressed caregiver may be more likely to introduce a pacifier [ 42 , 43 ] rather than finding alternative soothing methods to calm a fussy baby. Although maternal depression did not sustain an association in the multivariate analysis, it is essential to consider when developing pacifier-use interventions [ 17 , 20 , 43 , 44 ], especially among food-insecure families, which due to COVID is a group that has increased exponentially in recent years [ 45 ].…”