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

Abstract

Economic stress, broadly defined, is associated with an increased likelihood of multiple forms of violence. Food insecurity is a distinct economic stressor and material hardship that is amenable to programmatic and policy intervention. To inform intervention and identify gaps in the current evidence base, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize and critically evaluate the existing literature regarding the association between food insecurity and five forms of interpersonal and self-directed violence: intimate partner violence (IPV), suicidality, peer violence and bullying, youth dating violence, and child maltreatment, in high-income countries. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and searched six electronic databases from their start date through February of 2022. We included studies that examined food insecurity as the exposure and an outcome measure of IPV, suicide, suicidality, peer violence, bullying, youth dating violence, or child maltreatment; were peer-reviewed and published in English; reported quantitative data; and took place in a high-income country. We identified 20 relevant studies. Nineteen studies found that food insecurity was associated with an increased likelihood of these forms of violence. Results highlight the potential for programs and policies that address food insecurity to function as primary prevention strategies for multiple forms of violence and underscore the importance of trauma-informed approaches in organizations providing food assistance. Additional theory-driven research with validated measures of food insecurity and clearly established temporality between measures of food insecurity and violence is needed to strengthen the existing evidence base.

Persistent Food Insecurity and Material Hardships: A Latent Class Analysis of Experiences among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Urban Colombia

“…These findings are consistent with global research that has demonstrated the direct links between food insecurity and material hardships with mental health, as well as indirect relationships with mental and physical health through malnutrition and delayed medical care [34][35][36]. Similarly, household food insecurity and material hardships have been associated with increased household stress that may trigger violent behavior, while survivors experiencing food insecurity and material hardships may not have the means to access safer housing or to escape abusive relationships, thus increasing the risk of violence victimization [37][38][39]. Ultimately, food insecurity has been independently associated with emergency medical visits, hospitalizations, and increased hospital expenditures [40].…”