title: The role of food insecurity in developmental psychopathology.
abstract: Food security is a condition achieved when all members of a household have access to adequate food at all times for a healthy, active lifestyle. As of 2014, 14% of households in the United States were food insecure. Previous research has suggested that household food insecurity is associated with numerous adverse medical and psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan. In this narrative review, we examine current research on food insecurity, specifically as it relates to child psychopathology and risk factors thereof: namely, parental mental illness and poor diet and metabolic health. Moreover, we begin to speculate about behavioral and physiological mechanisms by which these conditions may influence one another, and discuss possible interventions through enhanced screening and treatment, parent training, and provision of high quality foods to vulnerable households. Further research is needed to the effects of child and parental mental health on metabolic outcomes in families with food insecurity.
authors: The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States. Electronic address: robert.althoff@uvm.edu.
authors: Robert R
authors: RR
authors: Althoff
authors: The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
authors: Merelise
authors: M
authors: Ametti
authors: The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
authors: Farryl
authors: F
authors: Bertmann
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Child behavioral problem; Depression; Developmental psychopathology; Food insecurity; Mental illness; Obesity; Overweight; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program