Associations between food security status and suicidal ideation: a comprehensive analysis of NHANES 2007-2016

Suicidal ideation not only indicates severe psychological distress but also significantly raises the risk of suicide, whereas food insecurity may further increase this risk. To examine the relationship between food insecurity and suicidal ideation, we used the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data from 2007 to 2016. The association between the risk of suicidal ideation and food security status was examined using multivariate logistic regression models. To ensure the robustness of our findings, we also conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses, which were crucial for assessing the consistency and precision of the research findings. This study included 22,098 participants, of whom 50.30% were female and 49.70% were male. In the comprehensive analysis of the population, after full adjustment, the odds ratios were 1.14 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.46) for marginal food security, 1.40 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.76) for low food security, and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.27, 1.99) for very low food security. In the subgroup analysis, we identified a significant interaction between depression and food security (P = 0.004). Additionally, the results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with previous findings. Our study revealed that food insecurity significantly increased the risk of suicidal ideation, emphasizing the importance of addressing food security to improve mental health. These findings support the need for national food assistance programs integrated with mental health services. More longitudinal studies are needed to validate the long-term impact of food insecurity on suicidal ideation to optimize intervention measures and policy adjustments.