Food Security, Psychological Health Status and Coping Strategies Among Low-Income Mothers In Taiping, Perak

Abstract

Food insecurity, exacerbated by socioeconomic disadvantage, is a critical determinant of nutritional inadequacy and psychological distress. However, localised data on this relationship and coping mechanisms among lowincome
populations remain limited. This study investigated the prevalence of food insecurity, coping strategies and psychological health among low-income (B40) households in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted online using convenience and snowball sampling among 115 women of reproductive age (18-49 years) from B40 families. Food security status was assessed using 18-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Depression and anxiety status were measured with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, respectively. Coping strategies were recorded using a structured checklist. Overall, 81.7% of households were food-secure, while 18.3% were food-insecure. The prevalence of clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥10) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10) was 4.3% and 2.6%, respectively. Significant association were found between food insecurity and psychological distress, with food-insecure women reporting higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms (p<0.001). Common coping strategies included food-related actions (such as prioritising children’s food intake) and financial rationing (such as stringent budgeting), while income-generating strategies were less frequently adopted. In conclusion, most  households were food-secure, and a minority experienced food insecurity, which was strongly associated with depression and anxiety. This highlights the need for integrated public health interventions that address both economic vulnerability and mental health, moving beyond short-term food assistance toward sustainable social support strategies.