We evaluated associations between food insecurity (FI) and the quality and quantity of sleep in adults (≥18 years).
The current study represented a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
Databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science were searched from inception until 6 June 2022. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, and effect sizes were reported as OR and 95 % CI.
Data from ten eligible observational studies, including 83 764 participants, were included.
FI was associated with an increased risk of poor sleep quality (OR = 1·45; 95 % CI (1·24, 1·70), I 2 = 95, P < 0·001, n 7). Besides, subgroup analysis showed increased risk of poor sleep quality corresponding to the severity of FI across mild (OR = 1·31; 95 % CI (1·16, 1·48), I 2 = 0 %, P < 0·001, n 5), moderate (OR = 1·49; 95 % CI (1·32, 1·68), I 2 = 0 %, P < 0·001, n 5) and severe (OR = 1·89; 95 % CI (1·63, 2·20), I 2 = 0 %, P < 0·001, n 5) levels. Similarly, subgroup analysis by sleep problems showed that FI was associated with an increased the risk of trouble falling asleep (OR = 1·39; 95 % CI (1·05, 1·83), I 2 = 91 %, P = 0·002, n 3) and trouble staying asleep (OR = 1·91; 95 % CI (1·37, 2·67), I 2 = 89 %, P < 0·001, n 3). Moreover, FI was associated with the odds of shorter (OR = 1·14; 95 % CI (1·07, 1·21), I 2 = 0 %, P < 0·001, n 4) and longer sleep duration (OR = 1·14; 95 % CI (1·03, 1·26), I 2 = 0 %, P = 0·010, n 4).