Association of Food Insecurity With Multiple Forms of Interpersonal and Self-Directed Violence: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Psychology

Background:

• Economic stress is a known risk factor for various forms of violence.
• Food insecurity, a specific economic hardship, is a modifiable factor with potential for intervention.

Approach:

• A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Searched six databases for studies (published up to Feb 2022) on food insecurity and violence in high-income countries.
• Included 20 peer-reviewed quantitative studies examining food insecurity as exposure and violence as outcomes.

Key Points:

• Nineteen of the 20 studies found a significant association between food insecurity and increased violence.
• Violence outcomes included intimate partner violence, suicidality, peer violence, bullying, youth dating violence, and child maltreatment.
• Results indicate food insecurity is a predictor for multiple violence types.

Conclusions:

• Programs addressing food insecurity can serve as primary violence prevention strategies.
• Trauma-informed approaches are crucial for organizations offering food assistance.
• Further research with validated measures and clear temporality is needed to strengthen the evidence base.