The relationship between mood disorder diagnosis and experiencing an unmet health-care need in Canada: findings from the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey

Unpacking the Association Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health Disorders Among Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

Previous research shows a negative correlation between food insecurity and mental health, but limited exploration exists among older adults. This study examines this association in Canadian adults aged 65 and older, focusing on the mediating roles of perceived life stress and community belonging, and the moderating role of gender.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 28,044) were analyzed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The associations between food insecurity and both anxiety and mood disorders were partially mediated by high life stress and low community belonging. The adverse associations of food insecurity, high life stress, and low community belonging with an anxiety disorder were more pronounced in women than in men. Similar patterns were observed for a mood disorder.

DISCUSSION

Interventions should address food insecurity, life stress, and community belonging, with particular attention to the unique challenges faced by older women to improve mental health.

Social determinants of unmet need for primary care: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Despite primary care being largely free at the point of delivery, many Canadians experience challenges in accessing the services they need. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the evidence on the level of unmet need for primary care in Canada and its social determinants.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were screened from inception to December 2023 using relevant search terms for primary care and unmet healthcare needs. Quantitative observational studies in the English language that included Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and focused on unmet needs for primary care were included. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using either the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The included studies were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Of the included studies, 96% were cross-sectional in design and 91% had low risk of bias. The prevalence of unmet need, mostly self-reported, varied between 6.6% and 25.2% in national studies. Social determinants of unmet needs were heterogeneous across studies. Findings suggest that unmet need for primary care is related to having low income, mental health diagnoses, and chronic conditions, and negatively associated with older age, having better-perceived health, and having a family physician.

CONCLUSIONS

Universal access to primary care is the founding principle of the Canadian healthcare system. However, we found evidence suggesting that the extent to which primary care needs are met is influenced by social determinants of health. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of unmet primary care needs in Canada.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021285074.

Interplay between actual and perceived weight on mental health among Canadian Indigenous post-secondary students

OBJECTIVES

Research increasingly focuses on the mental health implications of both actual and perceived weight, particularly among post-secondary students. Considering their unique socio-cultural context and the frequent oversight in research, this study examines these implications specifically among Canadian Indigenous post-secondary students. Recent evidence indicates that students with normal weight may also experience increased mental health risks due to negative weight perceptions. Therefore, this study explores the independent and combined effects of actual and perceived weight on the mental health of this group.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This study utilized data from the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, a nationally representative sample of First Nations peoples living off-reserve, Métis, and Inuit. The focus was on Canadian Indigenous post-secondary students aged 19-34 years (n = 1,518). Logistic regression models, stratified by sex, were employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Perceptions of being overweight were linked to a higher risk of mood and anxiety disorders, poor self-rated mental health, and suicidal ideation among female students. This pattern was less evident among male students. Notably, female students who were overweight and perceived themselves as such were more likely to report poor mental health across all four indicators examined. In contrast, male students exhibited a less clear pattern. Diverging from recent studies, the findings indicated less robust mental health disparities among students with normal weight who perceived themselves as overweight, potentially due to the insufficient cell size of this category among Indigenous post-secondary students.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the complex interplay between actual and perceived weight and its impact on mental health, particularly among female Indigenous post-secondary students.