Coping Strategies Moderate the Association Between Food Insecurity and Food Consumption Among Lebanese Adults

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Sociology

Background:

• Global rise in food insecurity (FI) linked to adverse health outcomes.
• Household coping strategies may influence FI's impact on food consumption.
• Understanding these strategies is vital for nutritional well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the moderating role of coping strategies.
• To examine the relationship between FI and food consumption.
• Focus on Lebanese adults.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 385 Lebanese adults.
• Assessed FI using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale.
• Measured food consumption with Food Consumption Score and coping strategies with Coping Strategy Index.

Main Results:

• FI was not directly associated with food consumption.
• Higher coping strategy scores correlated with better food consumption.
• Coping strategies moderated the FI-food consumption link, with greater FI associated with lower consumption at lower coping levels.

Conclusions:

• Complex interplay exists between FI and coping strategies.
• Interventions should strengthen adaptive coping mechanisms.
• Policy and programs integrating food security and coping support are recommended.