Coping Strategies Moderate the Association Between Food Insecurity and Food Consumption Among Lebanese Adults

ABSTRACT Background The prevalence of food insecurity (FI) is increasing worldwide, leading to several health issues. The impact of FI on adverse health outcomes, especially on food consumption, may be partly influenced by the strategies that household members use to cope with limited food access. This study sought to examine the moderating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between FI and food consumption among Lebanese adults. Methods A total of 385 Lebanese adults participated in this cross‐sectional study. FI and food consumption were evaluated using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and the Food Consumption Score, respectively. Coping strategies were measured using the Coping Strategy Index. Results The moderation analysis results showed that FI was not significantly associated with food consumption ( p = 0.499). However, higher coping strategy scores were significantly associated with higher food consumption (beta = 0.45; p < 0.001). Moreover, coping strategies moderated the association between FI and food consumption (beta = −0.02, t = −2.33, p = 0.020, 95% CI −0.04; −0.003). At low, moderate, and high levels of coping strategies, greater FI was significantly associated with lower food consumption. Conclusion Our results underscore the complex interplay between FI and coping strategies, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions that strengthen adaptive coping mechanisms to mitigate the adverse effects of FI on nutritional well‐being. Future research should identify the specific coping strategies individuals adopt in response to FI and examine their long‐term effects on food consumption through longitudinal studies. Policy initiatives and intervention programs that integrate food security measures with coping strategy support may help alleviate the negative consequences of FI.