Unveiling Food Deprivation in Italy: Socio-demographic Predictors and Immaterial Effects

Despite growing global attention to food poverty and advancements in measurement tools, Italy still lacks a comprehensive system for collecting and monitoring relevant data. This gap limits the ability to accurately assess the extent of food deprivation and evaluate the effectiveness of related policies. The integration of the FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) into the 2022 EU-SILC survey is a positive step forward, but it provides only a partial view of the issue. To deepen the understanding of the prevalence and dynamics of food poverty in Italy, this study introduces a novel Food Deprivation Index that incorporates both the material and social dimensions of food access. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of food deprivation, analysing its distribution across sociodemographic groups and Italian macro-areas. Additionally, through logistic regression models, the study identifies key sociodemographic determinants of food deprivation and explores its impact on psychosocial well-being, controlling for sociodemographic, economic, and social variables. The findings provide key insights for shaping future social policies that ensure secure access to adequate food, addressing both the material dimension – in terms of quantity, quality, and variety – and the social aspects.