Food Insecurity and Subjective Wellbeing Among Arab Youth Living in Varying Contexts of Political Instability.
PURPOSE
To investigate associations between food insecurity experience and subjective wellbeing in Arab youth, across different political stability settings.


METHODS
Data from the Gallup World Poll (2014-2015) were extracted for youth aged 15-24 years living in 19 Arab countries (n = 8,162). Food insecurity was assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Life Evaluation Score and Affect Balance were used as indicators of youth wellbeing. The 2014 Political Stability and Absence of Violence and Terrorism score was used to stratify Arab countries into three categories; high, medium, and low political stability. Multivariable regressions were performed to explore the relationship between food insecurity and wellbeing indices adjusting for socio-demographic and socio-economic factors, across different political stability settings.


RESULTS
The prevalence of food insecurity among Arab youth ranged between 3.1% in Lebanon to 91.3% in South Sudan. Food insecurity (moderate and severe) was negatively correlated with life evaluation (β: -0.74 for moderate food insecurity; -1.28 for severe food insecurity, p-value <0.001), and affect balance (β: -22.03 for moderate food insecurity; -33.88 for severe food insecurity, p-value <0.001). These results were consistent across political stability groups, independently from socio-demographic and socio-economic factors. Fewer factors were correlated with life evaluation and affect balance in low as compared to medium and high political stability settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Food insecurity is an independent risk factor for Arab youth wellbeing. Efforts to improve youth wellbeing can be channelled through food security interventions.
['Asfahani|Farah|F|', 'Kadiyala|Suneetha|S|', 'Ghattas|Hala|H|']
D000293:Adolescent D000339:Affect D018912:Arabs D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D000066498:Emotional Adjustment D005260:Female D005523:Food Supply D006801:Humans D008297:Male D011057:Politics D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Food insecurity Wellbeing Arab Youth Food insecurity experience scale Affect balance Life satisfaction