Navigating the Nexus of Food Insecurity, Anxiety, and Depression in the Face of Climate Change: A Longitudinal Study in Rural Kenya

Objective To investigate the temporal relationships between food insecurity, anxiety, and depression among adult participants in a community-based empowerment program in Meru County, Kenya. Methods A cross-lagged panel analysis was conducted using data from 362 adult participants in a community-based empowerment program in Meru County, Kenya. Participants completed self-report measures of food insecurity, anxiety, and depression at two-time points, 11 weeks apart. Results Food insecurity (T1) predicted subsequent anxiety and depression (T2), controlling for within-variable, within-time, and control-variable correlations. Village-level food insecurity (T1) was correlated with significantly higher anxiety (T2). Additionally, anxiety (T1) predicted higher subsequent food insecurity (T2). Conclusion Food insecurity and anxiety have a complex bidirectional relationship. Interventions that address food security, mental health, and the psychosocial factors that promote adaptation to food-insecure environments are essential for promoting the well-being of individuals and communities in the face of climate change. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study was supported by funding available from the National Institute of Mental Health. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The Institutional Review Boards at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Kenya Methodist University provided approval for this study prior to data collection. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors