Food and Nutritional Insecurity and Common Mental Disorders Among Workers in Government-Supported Popular Restaurants

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of positive screening for common mental disorders (CMD) and identify associated factors among workers at Government-supported Popular Restaurants in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2022 and included 240 workers. Socioeconomic, occupational, and health-related data were collected and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, with positive screening for CMD as the dependent variable. Approximately two in five workers screened positive for CMD. In the final multivariable model, female sex was associated with higher odds of a positive screening result for CMD. Higher odds were also observed among workers who self-identified as Black, Brown, or Asian/Asian Brazilian, compared with White workers, and among those experiencing household food and nutritional insecurity. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and organizational strategies to promote mental health and address inequalities among workers of Government-supported Popular Restaurants.