Food aid provision associated with reduced anxiety and insomnia symptoms in food-insecure Pakistani adults
Photo by Zeyn Afuang / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider food aid's potential psychological benefits in food-insecure populations, but evidence remains exploratory.
This exploratory randomized controlled trial enrolled 186 participants from food aid distribution centers in Pakistan to examine the effects of food aid provision on psychological outcomes. Participants were assigned to either receive food aid or serve as waitlist controls. The study did not report a primary outcome, follow-up duration, or safety data.
Food aid provision was associated with significantly lower anxiety scores compared to waitlist control (mean 2.71 vs. 3.83, p < .001, Cohen's d = -1.57). Insomnia symptoms were also significantly lower in the food aid group (mean 2.66 vs. 3.28, p < .001, Cohen's d = -0.57). A mediation analysis suggested anxiety reduction accounted for part of the effect on insomnia symptoms (indirect effect estimate = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.23, -0.69]).
No safety, adverse event, or tolerability data were reported. The study did not specify funding sources or conflicts of interest. Key limitations include the exploratory design, absence of safety monitoring, lack of follow-up duration reporting, and conduct in a specific high-food-insecurity context that may limit generalizability.
While these findings suggest food aid may address insomnia in contexts where traditional therapeutic approaches are impractical to scale, clinicians should interpret them cautiously. The evidence remains preliminary, and the study does not establish whether effects persist beyond the intervention period or apply to other populations.
More on Anxiety
Breathwork reduces anxiety, depression, and stress in paramedic students in 12-week RCT
Breathwork practice may reduce stress and anxiety in student paramedics
A single-blind RCT of 98 student paramedics found that a 12-week structured breathwork protocol (A52 Breath Method) significantly reduced an…
A 12-week breathing routine helped student paramedics lower stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting resilience without any reported s…
Systematic review shows regional differences in HS comorbidity prevalence across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Regional differences in health risks for hidradenitis suppurativa patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa-associated comorbidities across North America, …
A meta-analysis reveals how hidradenitis suppurativa patients in North America, Europe, and the Middle East/Asia face different odds for dia…
Self-help mindfulness and CBT interventions reduce depression and anxiety in distressed students
Mindfulness Apps Help Students Reduce Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
This RCT in 335 distressed university students in China found that self-help mindfulness interventions, with or without CBT, significantly r…
A trial found that online mindfulness programs significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in stressed university students compare…
Digital mental health intervention reduces anxiety and depression in Chinese high school students
A 12-week digital program reduced depression and anxiety in Chinese high school students
This 12-week randomized controlled trial in 390 Chinese high school students found that a digital mental health literacy intervention integr…
A 12-week digital program reduced depression and anxiety in Chinese high school students compared to controls, offering a scalable solution …
View Original Abstract ↓
OBJECTIVES: We sought to move beyond typical therapeutic interventions to improve insomnia symptoms by exploring food aid as a means to decrease insomnia symptoms in contexts with high food insecurity.
METHODS: We recruited participants from food aid distribution centers in Pakistan. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment condition in which they received food aid (weighted to be 60% of participants) or were in the waitlist control condition (weighted to be 40% of participants), followed by an outcome survey. 186 participants completed the study.
RESULTS: Participants in the food aid condition reported significantly lower anxiety (M = 2.71, SD = 0.81) than participants in the waitlist control condition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.55), p < .001, cohen's d = -1.57. Participants in the food aid condition reported significantly lower insomnia symptoms (M = 2.66, SD = 1.12) than participants in the waitlist control condition (M = 3.28, SD = 1.01), p < .001, cohen's d = -0.57. The indirect effect of food aid on insomnia symptoms via anxiety was significant (Est = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.23, -0.69]), consistent with anxiety as a mediator.
CONCLUSIONS: In our exploratory study of a context characterized by high food insecurity, the provision of food aid lowered anxiety and insomnia symptoms. Food aid provision may be an effective means to address insomnia in contexts in which traditional therapeutic approaches may be impractical to sufficiently scale.
PETRUSHKA decision-support tool reduced treatment discontinuation and improved symptoms in major depressive disorder
The Algorithm That Helps Doctors Pick the Right Antidepressant for You
Related in Psychiatry
Text-message CBT treatment reduced generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in young adults compared to wait-list control.
Text Message Therapy Reduces Anxiety Symptoms in Young Adults
This randomized clinical trial enrolled 103 young adults with generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder. Participants receiv…
A text message treatment for depression also significantly lowered anxiety symptoms in young adults compared to waiting for care.
Cariprazine showed modest weight reduction versus aripiprazole in schizophrenia patients previously treated with olanzapine.
Cariprazine shows modest weight benefit over aripiprazole in schizophrenia patients
This trial compared cariprazine to aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia who had previously used olanzapine. While both groups improve…
A trial found cariprazine linked to slightly more weight loss than aripiprazole in people with schizophrenia, though overall differences wer…
Self-help mindfulness and CBT interventions reduce depression and anxiety in distressed students
Mindfulness Apps Help Students Reduce Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
This RCT in 335 distressed university students in China found that self-help mindfulness interventions, with or without CBT, significantly r…
A trial found that online mindfulness programs significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in stressed university students compare…
Values affirmation writing reduced anxiety in first-year minoritized STEM students compared to neutral writing in an RCT.
Writing Exercise Eases Anxiety in Minority STEM Students
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 69 first-year students from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds in STEM fields. Participants…
A brief writing exercise helped reduce anxiety and boost belonging among first-year STEM students from minoritized backgrounds.
From Other Specialties
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows cefotiam reduces postoperative infection in clean surgery
Cefotiam cuts post-surgery infection risk by half compared to no antibiotics
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated cefotiam prophylaxis versus no antibiotic prophylaxis or other beta-lactam agents in adul…
A large review found cefotiam lowers infection risk after clean surgery. It works as well as other common antibiotics without causing more s…
Therapeutic Touch Reduces Crying and Improves Sleep in Infants With Colic
Therapeutic touch reduces crying in babies with colic
This randomized controlled trial in 96 infants with colic found that therapeutic touch based on Watson's Human Care Theory significantly red…
A new trial shows gentle therapeutic touch helps babies cry less and sleep better when they have infantile colic.
Mycophenolate mofetil non-inferior to prednisone for first-episode nephrotic syndrome in children
Mycophenolate Mofetil Offers Alternative to Steroids for Nephrotic Syndrome
This phase 3 non-inferiority trial randomized 272 children aged 1-10 years with first-episode steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome to mycoph…
A new trial shows mycophenolate mofetil works as well as prednisone for children with nephrotic syndrome, with fewer steroid side effects.
AquOTic water competency intervention improves outcomes in children with autism
Water therapy improves skills for children with autism spectrum disorder
This pre-post cohort study of 37 children with autism ages 5 to 9 found that a 10-week occupational therapy-based water competency intervent…
A water-based occupational therapy program significantly improved performance and satisfaction scores in children with autism spectrum disor…