Food Insecurity and Sleep-Related Problems in Adolescents: Findings from the EHDLA Study

oleh: Edina Maria de Camargo, Héctor Gutiérrez-Espinoza, José Francisco López-Gil

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-06-01

Deskripsi

Purpose: The current research aimed to investigate the connection between food insecurity and sleep issues among Spanish adolescents aged from 12 to 17 years from the <i>Valle de Ricote</i> (Region of Murcia, Spain). Methods: Data from the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities Study, which included a sample of 836 adolescents (55.3% girls), were analyzed. Food insecurity was evaluated using the Child Food Security Survey Module in Spanish (CFSSM-S), while sleep-related problems were evaluated using the Bedtime problems, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity and duration of sleep, and Sleep-disordered breathing (BEARS) sleep screening tool. Generalized linear models were employed to explore the association between food insecurity and sleep-related issues. Results: Compared with their counterparts with food security, adolescents with food insecurity had greater probabilities of bedtime problems (24.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.9% to 33.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.003), excessive daytime sleepiness (36.4%, 95% CI 27.5% to 46.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), awakenings during the night (16.7%, 95% CI 10.8% to 25.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.004), and any sleep-related problems (68.1%, 95% CI 57.5% to 77.1%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: This study suggests that food insecurity is related to greater sleep-related problems among adolescents. Implementing strategies to mitigate food insecurity may contribute to improved sleep health among adolescents, highlighting the importance of integrated public health interventions.