Food insecurity, a condition traditionally framed as a social welfare issue predominantly impacting unemployed populations, is increasingly recognized as a critical factor affecting the employed workforce. Recent empirical research sheds light on the intricate ways in which food insecurity precipitates psychological distress and undermines occupational functioning. Published in the Journal of Applied Psychology on February 19, 2026, this groundbreaking study by Jason HJ Moy and colleagues employs experimental methodologies to unravel how inadequate access to sufficient and nutritious food diminishes workers’ mental health and performance metrics, challenging preconceived notions about this pervasive socioeconomic challenge.
The conceptual framework for food insecurity involves the persistent anxiety and socioeconomic precarity surrounding access to food, leading individuals to ration consumption, reduce meal frequency, or endure hunger altogether. According to a 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, over 47 million Americans—constituting approximately 13% of households—experienced food insecurity in that year alone. This statistical backdrop underscores food insecurity’s extensive reach and the severe implications it holds for public health, particularly as it intersects with the daily realities of employment.
Previous clinical investigations have linked food insecurity with a spectrum of health consequences ranging from physiological disorders, such as hypertension, anemia, and asthma, to psychiatric and behavioral afflictions including anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep patterns, and disordered eating behaviors. Moy et al.’s study adds a critical dimension by examining workplace-specific outcomes, thereby positioning food insecurity as not only a health issue but an organizational and economic dilemma as well.
The first experiment within the study consisted of 375 U.S. working adults with prior food insecurity experiences. Participants were dichotomously assigned to recollect either recent episodes of food insecurity or periods when food access was ample. Subsequent qualitative reports revealed that those primed to reflect on food insecurity exhibited markedly elevated anxiety levels. This heightened psychological distress corresponded with statistically significant decrements in task performance, engagement at work, and prosocial behaviors toward colleagues, thereby illustrating a direct cognitive-emotional impact on workplace efficacy.
Expanding these findings, the second phase engaged 567 working individuals via longitudinal diary methods over the course of a month. The continuous self-report design tracked fluctuations in food security status alongside measures of anxiety and work-related outcomes. Data analysis confirmed a robust temporal correlation where episodic spikes in food insecurity aligned with increased anxiety and a concomitant decline in task performance and professional engagement. This temporal dynamic reveals the chronicity of food insecurity’s impact on work function rather than a mere situational effect.
To test the causal efficacy of interventions addressing food insecurity, the study’s third and final phase implemented a randomized field experiment in Pakistan involving 196 workers. Participants received either nutritional support in the form of food packages or alternative supplies unrelated to food needs, such as cleaning and hygiene products. Workers provided with nutritional aid demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety and concomitant improvements in work performance and engagement levels. This compelling evidence signals that ameliorating food insecurity can produce immediate and tangible benefits for both employee well-being and organizational productivity.
The study’s nuanced findings call for a paradigmatic shift in business leadership and human resource strategies. Moy emphasizes that addressing employee food insecurity transcends charitable or humanitarian initiatives, presenting a compelling case for direct employer engagement. Firms stand to gain from instituting food support mechanisms including grocery vouchers, on-site food pantries, community garden initiatives, and transportation facilitation to food assistance resources. These corporate policies could mitigate the spiral of anxiety-induced productivity losses while fostering workplace solidarity and employee retention.
The psychological mechanisms mediating food insecurity’s adverse effects on occupational outcomes appear multifaceted, centered on elevated anxiety undermining cognitive focus, motivation, and the capacity to engage collaboratively. By effectively stabilizing nutritional access, employers can buffer employees from these impairments, enhancing resilience and sustained workforce performance. Such integrative approaches align with emerging socio-organizational models emphasizing employee well-being as foundational to sustainable productivity.
Moreover, the research positions food insecurity within a broader discourse on economic inequality and occupational health disparities. This intersectional perspective advances understanding of how systemic vulnerabilities translate into daily behavioral and performance deficits. Consequently, the study lays groundwork for future interdisciplinary research integrating organizational psychology, behavioral economics, and public health to architect holistic interventions applicable across diverse labor markets.
These findings have immediate policy implications. Government agencies, public health institutions, and private sector entities could collaborate to expand food security safety nets specifically tailored for working populations. Such coordination could optimize resource distribution and reinforce economic stability, addressing root causes rather than symptomatic manifestations alone. In essence, this research advocates for integrative, evidence-based responses that recognize the critical role of food security in workforce health.
In sum, Moy et al.’s article reveals that the insidious effects of food insecurity permeate beyond household economic considerations, critically impairing employee mental health and workplace dynamics. The authors make a compelling argument for employer-facilitated food assistance programs, a proactive approach promising to alleviate anxiety and enhance task engagement. As the global food insecurity crisis intensifies, actionable research such as this highlights an urgent need for strategic organizational interventions that uphold both human dignity and economic vitality.
By reconfiguring how businesses perceive and respond to food insecurity, there lies potential not only for uplifted individual well-being but also for the transformation of workplace culture into an ecosystem of support and resilience. This pioneering research challenges entrenched economic assumptions and beckons a future where food security is recognized as a cornerstone of occupational health and productivity.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: The Effects of Food Insecurity on Work Outcomes
News Publication Date: 19-Feb-2026
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0001361
References: Moy, J. H. J., Khan, U. A., Ong, W. J., & Barnes, C. M. (2026). The Effects of Food Insecurity on Work Outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001361
Keywords: Psychological science, Behavioral psychology, Food security
