Understanding the mechanisms linking precariousness to eating behaviors in the Hauts-de-France region
Résumé
Health inequalities related to food are increasing, particularly in regions with high levels of precariousness, such as Hauts-de-France. While financial interventions can alleviate stress and improve food security, they often fail to sustainably modify food behaviors. According to the scarcity effect theory (Mullainathan & Shafir, 2013), managing limited resources generates cognitive overload, which impairs decision-making processes. This study examines how precariousness influences food literacy and food behaviors through the cognitive load perceived during food selection (shopping) and preparation (cooking). A questionnaire was administered to 618 participants in Hauts-de-France, measuring objective and subjective precariousness, food insecurity, cognitive load (NASA-TLX), food literacy (selection, preparation, consumption, production, disposal), and health indicators. Results show that precariousness significantly increases cognitive load during food-related tasks (R² = 25% for selection; R² = 29% for preparation). Cognitive load associated with selection negatively impacts food literacy dimensions such as selection and preparation skills, while preparation load predominantly affects consumption behaviors. Mediation analyses reveal that cognitive overload partially explains the relationship between precariousness and suboptimal food literacy outcomes. These findings highlight the necessity of addressing cognitive barriers, in addition to financial ones, to support healthier food behaviors among precarious populations.