Food insecurity and its association with multiple health outcomes among Indigenous peoples in Canada: the buffering role of culture-based resources

Abstract

Objectives: Despite growing interest in the health disparities associated with food insecurity, research focusing on Indigenous peoples has been limited, especially in studies using nationally representative samples. This study investigates the association between food insecurity and various health outcomes–self-rated general and mental health, chronic health conditions, suicidal ideation, and obesity–among Indigenous peoples in Canada. It also explores the potential moderating effects of culture-based resources, which include cultural identity affect, cultural group belonging, cultural engagement, and cultural exploration. Design: The study utilized data from the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, a nationally representative sample of First Nations individuals living off-reserve, Métis, and Inuit across Canada (N = 15,533). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Results: Food insecurity was negatively associated with all examined health outcomes. Culture-based resources demonstrated a mixture of anticipated and unexpected effects on these relationships. Consistent with the stress process model, cultural group belonging mitigated the negative impact of food insecurity on all health outcomes. A similar pattern was observed for cultural engagement. However, contrary to expectations from the stress-buffering perspective, little evidence was found to support the moderating effects of cultural identity affect and cultural exploration. Conclusion: The results underscore the detrimental effects of food insecurity on the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada and suggest that culture-based resources, particularly cultural group belonging, play a crucial role in mitigating health disparities.