Early-career research(J-PEAKS)

Food insecurity refers to a situation in which individuals or households cannot obtain sufficient and adequate food due to economic constraints or limited resources. It is a multidimensional concept that encompasses not only the actual shortage of food but also the psychological anxiety preceding such shortages, making it an important indicator for facilitating early food assistance. Internationally, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), proposed by the FAO, has been adopted as a monitoring tool for achieving SDG Goal 2. However, in Japan, research remains scarce, and determinants of food insecurity have not been sufficiently investigated.

Previous findings from researches by this researcher have revealed that FIES associated with socioeconomic factors such as isolation and unstable employment, as well as strong links with psychological conditions including anxiety and postpartum depression. Nevertheless, the association between subjective food insecurity and actual nutritional intake remains unclear. To effectively employ FIES as a tool for food assistance, it is necessary to explore the mechanisms underlying the discrepancy between perceived food insecurity and actual intake, and to develop a theoretical framework for classifying these patterns.

This research aims to analyze the divergence between food insecurity and nutritional intake from multiple perspectives, including socioeconomic factors (e.g., social isolation, financial instability), psychological factors (e.g., stress, well-being measures), and environmental factors such as access to food, information, and supportive living conditions. The ultimate goal is to establish reliable methods to identify those truly in need of assistance while reducing unnecessary interventions. Particular attention will be given to two groups: individuals who experience strong anxiety despite having sufficient intake, and those who have inadequate intake but do not report insecurity. These cases are crucial for understanding whether food insecurity can serve as an early signal of insufficient consumption and whether predictive accuracy can be improved by integrating other relevant factors.

Furthermore, the study will examine the potential contribution of “food-related happiness” to reducing food insecurity. By integrating nutritional intake data with psychological and economic contexts, this research seeks not only to refine the identification of households requiring food support but also to explore what constitutes “happy eating,” even under resource constraints. Through these efforts, the project aims to generate evidence for effective interventions, thereby advancing both scientific understanding and practical applications of food insecurity assessment in Japan.

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