Food Insecurity Screening and Resource Provision Among Young Adults with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder
Amelia Blanton (1), Keerthana Karthik (1), Julia Browne (1), Sonya Abdalla (1), Haniya Rizwan (1), Aviva Schwarz (1), Brittany Gouse (1), Hannah Brown (1)
1. WRAP Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center
Background: Food insecurity is prevalent among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and has been associated with poor social support, lower household income, and higher risk for co–occurring conditions. Yet, there is a lack of research on food insecurity screening and resource allocation among young adults with SSD. This study examined the prevalence of food insecurity in young adults with SSD. in an urban safety net hospital.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical record data of patients with SSD between 18-29 years old who had received care at an urban safety-net hospital in Massachusetts between 2019-2024. Patients were screened for social determinants of health (including food insecurity) at least once using the THRIVE social determinants of health screening tool. Food insecurity was measured with two validated items about concerns regarding food running out or not lasting due to financial reasons in the past 12 months. Encounters to the hospital’s preventive food pantry were also obtained. Descriptive statistics were calculated to evaluate the percentage of individuals (a) who screened positive for food insecurity and (b) who accessed the preventive food pantry.
Results: Out of 1,212 young persons, 225 (18.56%) screened positive for food insecurity within the past 12 months. Of patients reporting food insecurity, 37 (16.44%) reported that they did not have enough money for food the day of assessment. Of those reporting past-year food insecurity, 31 (13.77%) attended the hospital food pantry at least once.
Conclusion: Among young adults with SSD who experienced food insecurity, a small subset of individuals accessed the hospital food pantry. This gap between young adults who screened positive for food insecurity and those who visited the food pantry indicates that not all eligible patients are benefiting from the hospital’s resources. Further research is needed to understand barriers and facilitators to food insecurity resource provision among young adults with SSD.