Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?

Background: Food and housing insecurity have been identified as modifiable risks for poor mental health and perceived self-rated health among people with HIV. This study examined the associations of food and housing insecurity with perceived overall health, depression and anxiety symptoms, and the p...

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Main Authors: Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal, Aaliyah Gray, Diana M. Sheehan, Sofia B. Fernandez, Tan Li, Robert Ladner, Mary Jo Trepka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2025-01-01
Series:Women's Health Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0120
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author Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal
Aaliyah Gray
Diana M. Sheehan
Sofia B. Fernandez
Tan Li
Robert Ladner
Mary Jo Trepka
author_facet Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal
Aaliyah Gray
Diana M. Sheehan
Sofia B. Fernandez
Tan Li
Robert Ladner
Mary Jo Trepka
author_sort Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal
collection DOAJ
description Background: Food and housing insecurity have been identified as modifiable risks for poor mental health and perceived self-rated health among people with HIV. This study examined the associations of food and housing insecurity with perceived overall health, depression and anxiety symptoms, and the potential moderating effect of social support. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 561 low-income women with HIV (WHIV) in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Part A Program. Data were collected from June 2021 to March 2022. Food and housing insecurity were categorized into three groups: no food/housing insecurity, any food/housing insecurity, and concurrent food/housing insecurity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for each outcome variable. Results: Compared to no food/housing insecurity, significant depressive symptoms were associated with any food/housing insecurity (aOR: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81–4.91) and concurrent food/housing insecurity (aOR: 17.11, 95% CI: 7.83–37.38). Significant anxiety symptoms were associated with any food/housing insecurity (aOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.68–7.30) and concurrent food/housing insecurity (aOR: 15.97, 95% CI: 6.92–36.87). Although social support was significantly related to depressive and anxiety symptoms, it did not moderate the relationship between these unmet needs and any of the health outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings revealed significant associations between unmet food and housing needs, poor social support, and significant depressive and anxiety symptoms among WHIV. Continuous, multifaceted support is essential to mitigate the negative impact of unmet food and housing needs and ensure the physical and mental well-being of WHIV.
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spelling doaj-art-3607f95ed68d4661a2dc6fb43252bede2025-08-20T03:49:45ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442025-01-016145346310.1089/whr.2024.0120Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal0Aaliyah Gray1Diana M. Sheehan2Sofia B. Fernandez3Tan Li4Robert Ladner5Mary Jo Trepka6Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.Department of Biostatistics, Academic Health Center 5, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.Behavioral Science Research Corporation, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.Background: Food and housing insecurity have been identified as modifiable risks for poor mental health and perceived self-rated health among people with HIV. This study examined the associations of food and housing insecurity with perceived overall health, depression and anxiety symptoms, and the potential moderating effect of social support. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 561 low-income women with HIV (WHIV) in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Part A Program. Data were collected from June 2021 to March 2022. Food and housing insecurity were categorized into three groups: no food/housing insecurity, any food/housing insecurity, and concurrent food/housing insecurity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for each outcome variable. Results: Compared to no food/housing insecurity, significant depressive symptoms were associated with any food/housing insecurity (aOR: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81–4.91) and concurrent food/housing insecurity (aOR: 17.11, 95% CI: 7.83–37.38). Significant anxiety symptoms were associated with any food/housing insecurity (aOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.68–7.30) and concurrent food/housing insecurity (aOR: 15.97, 95% CI: 6.92–36.87). Although social support was significantly related to depressive and anxiety symptoms, it did not moderate the relationship between these unmet needs and any of the health outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings revealed significant associations between unmet food and housing needs, poor social support, and significant depressive and anxiety symptoms among WHIV. Continuous, multifaceted support is essential to mitigate the negative impact of unmet food and housing needs and ensure the physical and mental well-being of WHIV.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0120HIV/AIDSwomen with HIVfood insecurityhousing insecuritymental health
spellingShingle Ekpereka Sandra Nawfal
Aaliyah Gray
Diana M. Sheehan
Sofia B. Fernandez
Tan Li
Robert Ladner
Mary Jo Trepka
Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
Women's Health Reports
HIV/AIDS
women with HIV
food insecurity
housing insecurity
mental health
title Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
title_full Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
title_fullStr Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
title_full_unstemmed Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
title_short Associations of Unmet Food and Housing Needs with Mental Health and Overall Perceived Health Among Women with HIV: Is There a Moderating Effect of Social Support?
title_sort associations of unmet food and housing needs with mental health and overall perceived health among women with hiv is there a moderating effect of social support
topic HIV/AIDS
women with HIV
food insecurity
housing insecurity
mental health
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0120
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