Food insecurity is often discussed as a public health or humanitarian issue. New research suggests it may also influence how people function at work.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that employees who experience food insecurity report higher anxiety and lower task performance and work engagement. In a field experiment, providing food reduced anxiety and was linked to improved workplace outcomes.
“There is an implicit assumption that food insecurity primarily affects unemployed people, but it’s a pervasive issue that impacts a sizable portion of the workforce,” said lead researcher Jason HJ Moy, a doctoral student in organizational behavior at the University of Washington.
The research included three studies. In the first, 375 U.S. working adults who had previously experienced food insecurity were asked to recall either a recent time when they struggled to access food or a time when food was readily available. Those who recalled food insecurity reported significantly higher anxiety and lower task performance, work engagement and willingness to help coworkers that day.
A second study followed 567 U.S. workers over one month using weekly diary entries. Participants who reported higher food insecurity during that period also reported higher anxiety and lower engagement and task performance.
In a third study conducted in Pakistan, 196 workers were randomly assigned to receive either a food package or a package of cleaning and hygiene products. Those who received food reported lower anxiety and showed beneficial effects on work engagement and performance compared with the control group.
The findings suggest that food insecurity may influence workplace outcomes in part through anxiety.
“We hope business leaders can change their mindset and understand that supporting employees facing food insecurity extends beyond humanitarian concerns and benefits the businesses themselves,” Moy said.
This study does not show that skipping a single meal leads to poor performance. Instead, it points to the psychological strain of ongoing uncertainty about food access. Persistent worry about affording food may affect attention, motivation and engagement, particularly for workers already navigating financial stress.
Food insecurity has previously been linked to higher risks of hypertension, anemia, asthma, anxiety, depression and sleep disruption. This research adds another dimension, suggesting that food-related stress may also affect day-to-day functioning on the job.
The researchers suggest that employers could consider supports such as grocery vouchers, workplace food pantries, community gardens or transportation assistance to food banks. Broader economic and policy factors, however, also shape food access and long-term solutions.
This research was supported by funding from the National University of Singapore.