Food Insecurity, COVID-19 Infection, Discrimination, Critical Consciousness, and Depression Among AfroLatinxs in the US

This study explored the association between food insecurity, COVID-19 infection, and depression symptoms among 146 AfroLatinx adults in the US. In addition, this study examined whether discrimination mediated and whether critical consciousness moderated these associations. We tested two mediation models using PROCESS to explore the associations between food insecurity, COVID-19 infection, discrimination, and depression symptoms. Follow-up analyses tested critical consciousness as a potential moderator in these links. Findings showed that discrimination mediated the association between food insecurity and depressive symptoms, and COVID-19 and depressive symptoms, respectively. Findings also showed that critical consciousness moderated the path between food insecurity and discrimination, whereby participants who reported higher scores on critical consciousness also reported more frequent instances of discrimination. This research provides novel, essential data to inform health interventions and federal policy targeting AfroLatinx US adults.