Apoyo social y desigualdades socioeconómicas asociadas con inseguridad alimentaria en la vejez

Abstract

Objective. To examine the influence of social support (structural and functional) and socio-economic and individual factors on food insecurity among older adults in urban areas of Argentina. Materials and methods. A descriptive-explanatory design was employed using data from individuals aged 60 and above, sourced from the Encuesta de la Deuda Social Argentina collected in 2019 (n= 1 357) and 2021 (n= 1 289). Descriptive analyses were conducted, and a binary logistic regression model was proposed. Results. Findings indicate the negative impact of socioeconomic and individual factors, emphasizing income poverty (OR= 4.27; 95%CI: 2.83,6.43) and living in a multigenerational household (OR= 1.48; 95%CI: 1.02,2.14) as significant factors. Having a social network acts as a protective factor against food insecurity (OR= 2.04; 95%CI: 1.53,2.71). Income poverty and lack of emotional social support, when interacting, indicate a higher likelihood of experiencing food insecurity (OR= 3.14; 95%CI: 1.22,8.06). Conclusion. These findings contribute to the discussion on the relationship between food deprivation in older adults and both economic and psychosocial aspects. They provide insights for diagnostics that consider the complexity of food deficits among older populations.