Universität zu Köln

Elgar, Frank J., Pickett, William, Pfoertner, Timo-Kolja, Gariepy, Genevieve ORCID: 0000-0001-9209-4240, Gordon, David, Georgiades, Kathy ORCID: 0000-0002-1413-9332, Davison, Colleen, Hammami, Nour ORCID: 0000-0001-5816-5949, MacNeil, Allison H., Da Silva, Marine Azevedo and Melgar-Quinonez, Hugo R. (2021). Relative food insecurity, mental health and wellbeing in 160 countries. Soc. Sci. Med., 268. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 1873-5347

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Abstract

Food insecurity contributes to various stress-related health problems and previous research found that its association with mental illness is stronger in more affluent countries. We hypothesised that this pattern is a function of relative deprivation whereby the severity of individual food insecurity relative to others in a reference group determines its associations with mental health and wellbeing after differences in absolute food insecurity are controlled for. Using survey data from the Gallup World Poll collected in 160 countries and a measure of relative deprivation (Yitzhaki index), we found that relative food insecurity-based on national or regional reference groups-related to more mental health symptoms, lower positive wellbeing and lower life satisfaction after controlling for absolute food insecurity, household income, and country differences. Our analysis also found that relative food insecurity was more strongly related to mental health and wellbeing where the prevalence of food insecurity was lower. The findings underscore the negative health consequences of material deprivation and unfavourable social comparisons. Consistent with relative deprivation theory, individuals who live with constant worries about not getting enough food, have to skip meals, or face chronic hunger are deprived of material and social resources that support mental health and wellbeing, especially in settings where food insecurity is less common and potentially more stigmatised. The implications of these findings for global food policy and surveillance efforts are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Elgar, Frank J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pickett, William UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pfoertner, Timo-Kolja UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gariepy, Genevieve UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-9209-4240 UNSPECIFIED Gordon, David UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Georgiades, Kathy UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-1413-9332 UNSPECIFIED Davison, Colleen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hammami, Nour UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-5816-5949 UNSPECIFIED MacNeil, Allison H. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Da Silva, Marine Azevedo UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Melgar-Quinonez, Hugo R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-593536
DOI:	10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113556
Journal or Publication Title:	Soc. Sci. Med.
Volume:	268
Date:	2021
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1873-5347
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language DEPRIVATION; NUTRITION; SAMPLE; HUNGER Multiple languages Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Social Sciences, Biomedical Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/59353