The Moderating Role of Perceived Community Belonging in the Association between Food Insecurity and Health and Well-Being
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10554167 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lei Chai (0000-0003-0503-7059, Hong Kong Jockey Club, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 43-52 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0037-8046 • E-ISSN: 1545-6846 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/sw/swaf041 |
| PMID | 41206734 |
| OpenAlex | W4416050749 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
While extensive research has established a link between food insecurity and adverse health and well-being outcomes, less attention has been given to factors that may moderate this relationship. This study examines whether a strong sense of community belonging can buffer the impact of food insecurity on mood and anxiety disorders, poor self-rated mental and general health, and low life satisfaction. Data were drawn from the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted by Statistics Canada (N = 94,790). Findings from logistic regression models indicate that individuals experiencing food insecurity are more likely to report adverse health and well-being outcomes. A strong sense of community belonging moderates this relationship, reducing the harmful impacts of food insecurity across all measured outcomes. Gender-stratified analyses reveal that this protective effect is particularly pronounced for mental health outcomes-including mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and self-rated mental health-among women. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening community connections as a protective factor, especially in supporting women's mental health in food-insecure settings. For social work practice, these results highlight the need to promote community engagement and implement gender-sensitive interventions to address the unique vulnerabilities associated with food insecurity
Anxiety · Association (psychology · Food insecurity · Logistic regression · Mental health · Moderation · Mood · Psychological intervention · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Homelessness and Social Issues · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
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Current Issues and Future Directions in Research into the Stress Process
Mortality prediction with a single general self-rated health question
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The Risk for Food Insecurity and Suicide Ideation among Young Adults in the United States
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The role of sense of community in improving the health‐related quality of life among Black Americans
Community lives of adolescents across multiple special needs
Editors' Comment
Health Trajectories
Religious Attendance, Stress, and Happiness in South Korea
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |