The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims In the United States, food insecurity (FI) is a serious health issue potentially affecting brain function. While neuroimaging suggests that diet quality influences brain functions, gaps remain regarding its impact on resilience, stress mindset, and mental distress, parti...

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Main Authors: Lina Begdache, Amera Al‐Amery, Katerina K. Nagorny, Ushima Chowdhury, Lexis R. Rosenberg, Zeynep Ertem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Health Science Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70787
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author Lina Begdache
Amera Al‐Amery
Katerina K. Nagorny
Ushima Chowdhury
Lexis R. Rosenberg
Zeynep Ertem
author_facet Lina Begdache
Amera Al‐Amery
Katerina K. Nagorny
Ushima Chowdhury
Lexis R. Rosenberg
Zeynep Ertem
author_sort Lina Begdache
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims In the United States, food insecurity (FI) is a serious health issue potentially affecting brain function. While neuroimaging suggests that diet quality influences brain functions, gaps remain regarding its impact on resilience, stress mindset, and mental distress, particularly across age and gender. This cross‐sectional study investigated these relationships using data from 1099 participants, of whom 26.19% were females and 70.39% were males, with the majority (70%) being under 30 years. Methods A multi‐scale questionnaire assessing FI, resilience, stress mindset, and mental distress was distributed via social media. ANOVA and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression were used to analyze the data in Python. Results FI was linked to reduced resilience and increased mental distress (p < 0.05), but did not produce an effect on stress mindset. Age, gender, education, and physical activity influenced neurobehaviors (p < 0.01), with physical activity showing the greatest improvement in resilience. Women exhibited stronger correlations between FI and neurobehaviors than men. Conclusion Encouraging physical activity and targeted mental health interventions can enhance resilience and reduce distress, particularly in women. Community‐based programs addressing gender and age disparities may be key to improving mental well‐being.
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spelling doaj-art-c5d2367fa8714dfebab9bedfcc2cbdf12025-08-20T03:39:21ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-05-0185n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70787The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional StudyLina Begdache0Amera Al‐Amery1Katerina K. Nagorny2Ushima Chowdhury3Lexis R. Rosenberg4Zeynep Ertem5Department of Health and Wellness Studies Binghamton University Binghamton New York USADepartment of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Princess Sumaya University for Technology Amman JordanDepartment of Integrative Neuroscience Binghamton University Binghamton New York USADepartment of Biochemistry Binghamton University Binghamton New York USADepartment of Integrative Neuroscience Binghamton University Binghamton New York USADepartment of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Binghamton University Binghamton New York USAABSTRACT Background and Aims In the United States, food insecurity (FI) is a serious health issue potentially affecting brain function. While neuroimaging suggests that diet quality influences brain functions, gaps remain regarding its impact on resilience, stress mindset, and mental distress, particularly across age and gender. This cross‐sectional study investigated these relationships using data from 1099 participants, of whom 26.19% were females and 70.39% were males, with the majority (70%) being under 30 years. Methods A multi‐scale questionnaire assessing FI, resilience, stress mindset, and mental distress was distributed via social media. ANOVA and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression were used to analyze the data in Python. Results FI was linked to reduced resilience and increased mental distress (p < 0.05), but did not produce an effect on stress mindset. Age, gender, education, and physical activity influenced neurobehaviors (p < 0.01), with physical activity showing the greatest improvement in resilience. Women exhibited stronger correlations between FI and neurobehaviors than men. Conclusion Encouraging physical activity and targeted mental health interventions can enhance resilience and reduce distress, particularly in women. Community‐based programs addressing gender and age disparities may be key to improving mental well‐being.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70787food insecuritymental distressresiliencestress mindset
spellingShingle Lina Begdache
Amera Al‐Amery
Katerina K. Nagorny
Ushima Chowdhury
Lexis R. Rosenberg
Zeynep Ertem
The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
Health Science Reports
food insecurity
mental distress
resilience
stress mindset
title The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
title_fullStr The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
title_short The Interplay of Food Insecurity, Resilience, Stress Mindset, and Mental Distress: Insights From a Cross‐Sectional Study
title_sort interplay of food insecurity resilience stress mindset and mental distress insights from a cross sectional study
topic food insecurity
mental distress
resilience
stress mindset
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70787
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