Understanding ethnic variations in the prevalence and experience of food insecurity, and its interaction with mental health: A mixed-methods longitudinal research programme

This Fellowship will explore the intersection of contemporary marginality, ethnicity and mental health through an integrative mixed methods study of the prevalence, causes, and lived experience of food insecurity in the UK.

The goals are to: - understand variations in the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of food insecurity, and its interaction with mental health, among UK ethnic groups - understand how different ethnic groups conceptualise ‘food insecurity’ and how this shapes its interaction with their mental health - understand ethnic variations in the lived experience of food insecurity, including food bank use, and its interaction with mental health - theorise the nexus of marginality, ethnicity and health in post-industrial Britain - provide a platform for mixed-methods, longitudinal analyses of food insecurity.

The Fellowship is composed of two interlinked studies, integrated within a new theoretical framework on contemporary marginality.

Study 1 employs Qualitative Longitudinal Research methods (N=30) over two years to explore the experience of food insecurity, the contingent nature of ethnicity, and the interaction of food insecurity, ethnicity and mental health.

Study 2 will estimate the prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and mental health causes and consequences of food insecurity and food bank use among UK ethnic groups, using existing and commissioned national and local survey data.