Examining the Association Between Food Insecurity and Pediatric Irritability

Irritability is a transdiagnostic construct associated with diverse psychiatric disorders in youth. This study examined the association between food insecurity and irritability in a clinically and community-recruited sample of children aged 8–16 (N = 183). Participants and their parents completed structured interviews and measures assessing irritability, food security, and socioeconomic status (SES). Child-reported food insecurity was significantly associated with greater irritability, whereas parent-reported food insecurity was not. Regression analyses identified child-reported food insecurity as a unique predictor of irritability, independent of SES indicators. These findings underscore the clinical importance of assessing food insecurity from the child’s perspective and suggest that subjective experiences of food insecurity may have a stronger emotional impact than previously recognized. Results highlight the need for multi-informant assessments and targeted interventions addressing basic needs within pediatric mental health care.