{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T10:21:55Z","timestamp":1790245315735,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761264000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":51,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000923","name":"Australian Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000923","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a public health issue with social and psychological dimensions. However, evidence on its association with mental health and social isolation in regional Australia remains limited. A cross-sectional online survey among adults (\u226518 years) living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of Australia assessed food insecurity using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, categorized into \u2018food secure\u2019 (score = 0) or \u2018food insecure\u2019 (score = 1+). Self-rated mental health and physical health (excellent\/good vs. fair\/poor) and reported diagnosis of a mental health condition was determined. Social isolation was assessed using six individual indicators and a composite social isolation score dichotomized participants into high versus low isolation. Multivariate logistic regression models examined associations between mental health, social isolation, and food insecurity, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics. Of participants (n = 666; 80% female; 57.1% university education), 38.3% experienced food insecurity. Poor self-rated mental health (22%) was associated with increased odds of food insecurity (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.47\u20133.96), as was diagnosed mental illness (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.46\u20133.71) and poor self-rated physical health (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.23\u20133.44). Participants with high social isolation on the composite score (15.5%) had two times higher odds of food insecurity compared with those with low isolation (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.09\u20134.26). Strong associations were also observed for individual indicators. Findings demonstrate strong links between food insecurity, mental health, and social isolation in regional Australia. Addressing food insecurity requires integrated strategies that combine material assistance with initiatives to strengthen social connectedness.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/daaf176","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T12:12:02Z","timestamp":1760703122000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Hungry for connection: associations between social isolation, mental health, and food insecurity in regional Australian adults"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"40","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5330-7044","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katherine","family":"Kent","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2522 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alemayehu Digssie","family":"Gebremariam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2522 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Denis","family":"Visentin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania , Launceston, TAS 7250 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kelly","family":"Andrews","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Healthy Cities Australia , Wollongong, NSW 2500 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Grace","family":"Potter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Healthy Cities Australia , Wollongong, NSW 2500 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8044-444X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karen","family":"Charlton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2522 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110727","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychores.2022.110727","article-title":"The bad, the ugly and the monster behind the mirror\u2014food insecurity, mental health and socio-economic determinants","volume":"154","author":"Aguiar","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Psychosom Res"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1684","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16111684","article-title":"Food insecurity screening in high-income countries, tool validity, and implementation: a scoping review","volume":"16","author":"Baker","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101154","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssaho.2024.101154","article-title":"Factors associated with loneliness in rural Australia: a web-based cross-sectional survey","volume":"10","author":"Barton","year":"2024","journal-title":"Soc Sci Humanit Open"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0000320","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmen.0000320","article-title":"Does food insecurity cause anxiety and depression? Evidence from the changing cost of living study","volume":"2","author":"Bateson","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS Ment Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B5","author":"Bickel","year":"2000"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2013.00015","article-title":"Self-rated health and public health: a critical perspective","volume":"1","author":"Bombak","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3200","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980017002221","article-title":"Food insecurity and emotional health in the USA: a systematic narrative review of longitudinal research","volume":"20","author":"Bruening","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980015001834","article-title":"Opportunities and challenges in developing a whole-of-government national food and nutrition policy: lessons from Australia\u2019s national food plan","volume":"19","author":"Carey","year":"2016","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.3928\/00485713-20140108-08","article-title":"Food insecurity as a social determinant of mental health","volume":"44","author":"Compton","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psychiatr Ann"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E78","DOI":"10.5888\/pcd18.200569","article-title":"Screening and referral care delivery services and unmet health-related social needs: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"Escobar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Prev Chronic Dis"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B11","author":"Foodbank Australia","year":"2023"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B12","volume-title":"The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health","author":"Friel","year":"2015"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1111\/1747-0080.12907","article-title":"Food insecurity and health conditions in the Australian adult population: a nationally representative analysis","volume":"82","author":"Fry","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nutr Diet"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1986","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980023000915","article-title":"Food security definition, measures and advocacy priorities in high-income countries: a Delphi consensus study","volume":"26","author":"Gallegos","year":"2023","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70048","DOI":"10.1002\/hpja.70048","article-title":"Increasing the effectiveness of rural, regional and remote food security initiatives through place-based partnerships-a qualitative study","volume":"36","author":"Godrich","year":"2025","journal-title":"Health Promot J Austr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e5959","DOI":"10.1111\/hsc.14027","article-title":"Food insecurity and loneliness amongst older urban subsidised housing residents: the importance of social connectedness","volume":"30","author":"Gonyea","year":"2022","journal-title":"Health Soc Care Community"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1177\/21568693221120066","article-title":"The risk for food insecurity and suicide ideation among young adults in the United States: the mediating roles of perceived stress and social isolation","volume":"13","author":"Graham","year":"2023","journal-title":"Soc Ment Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1830","DOI":"10.1377\/hlthaff.2015.0645","article-title":"Food insecurity and health outcomes","volume":"34","author":"Gundersen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Health Aff (Millwood)"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980022001240","article-title":"Association between health care access and food insecurity among lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions in Washington state, USA","volume":"26","author":"Hill","year":"2023","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1186\/s40795-024-00922-1","article-title":"Focusing attention on the important association between food insecurity and psychological distress: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Jandaghian-Bidgoli","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2017.04.008","article-title":"Food insecurity and mental health status: a global analysis of 149 countries","volume":"53","author":"Jones","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"Kent","DOI":"10.71747\/uowr3gk326m.28509653.v1"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-022-01347-4","article-title":"The new normal for food insecurity? A repeated cross-sectional survey over 1 year during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia","volume":"19","author":"Kent","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B24","author":"Kent","year":"2025"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nutres.2022.01.001","article-title":"Household marginal food security is associated with poorer self-rated health in Korean adults","volume":"100","author":"Lee","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutr Res"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1177\/140349489602400314","article-title":"Assessing reliability of a measure of self-rated health","volume":"24","author":"Lundberg","year":"1996","journal-title":"Scand J Soc Med"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E740","DOI":"10.1017\/S0029665120007260","article-title":"Re-thinking the relationship between food insecurity, health and social isolation","volume":"79","author":"McKenzie","year":"2020","journal-title":"Proc Nutr Soc"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2015.11.014","article-title":"Food insecurity and mental illness: disproportionate impacts in the context of perceived stress and social isolation","volume":"132","author":"Martin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1377","DOI":"10.1377\/hlthaff.2019.01637","article-title":"Food insecurity is associated with higher health care use and costs among Canadian adults","volume":"39","author":"Men","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Aff (Millwood)"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1080\/0312407X.2019.1662820","article-title":"Food insecurity in regional rural Australia","volume-title":"Aust Soc Work","author":"Mungai","year":"2020"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B300"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1650","DOI":"10.3390\/foods9111650","article-title":"Social capital contributions to food security: a comprehensive literature review","volume":"9","author":"Nosratabadi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2024.02.001","article-title":"Social isolation, loneliness, and quality of life among food-insecure adults","volume":"67","author":"Park","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1136\/jech-2024-221900","article-title":"Association of food insecurity with mental health status, mental health services utilisation and general healthcare utilisation among US adults","volume":"79","author":"Park","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Epidemiol Community Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15353\/cfs-rcea.v8i3.473","article-title":"Exploring experiences of food insecurity, stigma, social exclusion, and shame among women in high-income countries: a narrative review","volume":"8","author":"Pineau","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Stud"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"Plante","year":"2024","DOI":"10.1101\/2024.04.18.24306035"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1804","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16101804","article-title":"Food insecurity and hunger in rich countries\u2014it is time for action against inequality","volume":"16","author":"Pollard","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1778","DOI":"10.1017\/S136898001900435X","article-title":"Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"23","author":"Pourmotabbed","year":"2020","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1080\/10371656.2017.1364482","article-title":"Community food hubs: an economic and social justice model for regional Australia?","volume":"26","author":"Rose","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rural Soc"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1080\/10875549.2020.1869667","article-title":"Loneliness, food poverty, and perceived benefits of communal food consumption from a charity service","volume":"25","author":"Rotenberg","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Poverty"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1002\/ajs4.314","article-title":"Cutting more than meals: increasing severity of food insecurity is associated with the number and types of household financial strategies used to cope with inflation","volume":"59","author":"Seivwright","year":"2024","journal-title":"Aust J Soc Issues"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1785","DOI":"10.3945\/jn.113.178483","article-title":"Chronic physical and mental health conditions among adults may increase vulnerability to household food insecurity","volume":"143","author":"Tarasuk","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2006.03.012","article-title":"Quality criteria were proposed for measurement properties of health status questionnaires","volume":"60","author":"Terwee","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Clin Epidemiol"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-50047-3_10","volume-title":"Relationships and Mental Health: Relational Experience in Distress and Recovery","author":"Walker","year":"2023"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.4236\/fns.2018.95040","article-title":"A systematic review of the literature on the relationships between chronic diseases and food insecurity","volume":"9","author":"Weaver","year":"2018","journal-title":"Food Nutr Sci"},{"key":"2025102405284323200_daaf176-B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"820444","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.820444","article-title":"Do global adolescents with food insecurity feel lonely?","volume":"10","author":"Wu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Public Health"}],"container-title":["Health Promotion International"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article-pdf\/40\/5\/daaf176\/64921786\/daaf176.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article-pdf\/40\/5\/daaf176\/64921786\/daaf176.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,24]],"date-time":"2025-10-24T09:40:58Z","timestamp":1761298858000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/heapro\/daaf176\/8300662"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/heapro\/daaf176","relation":{},"ISSN":["0957-4824","1460-2245"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0957-4824","type":"print"},{"value":"1460-2245","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"article-number":"daaf176"}}