Depression mediates the links between climacteric symptoms and food and nutritional insecurity

Objective This study is perhaps the first to evaluate the influence of depression on the relationship between climacteric symptoms and food and nutritional insecurity (FNI). Methods In this cross-sectional study with a relatively large sample of climacteric women (N = 400), sociodemographic and clinical variables were investigated. We measured FNI, depression and climacteric symptoms with psychometrically sound instruments, namely the Brazilian Food Security Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Kupperman Index, respectively. Results Statistically significant differences were observed in the means of FNI according to education, income, marital status, history of depression, use of antidepressants and current depression. Furthermore, depression had strong indirect effects on the relationship between climacteric symptoms and FNI. Conclusion Our study suggests that targeting depression could benefit climacteric women, especially those with severe symptoms and in FNI.