Poverty and food insecurity have been related to lower cognitive functioning and psychological distress. However, how these interrelated concepts interact with each other remains unexamined. We examine how food insecurity mediates the relationship between a) poverty and cognitive capacity, and b) poverty and psychological distress. Four hundred and nineteen adults participated in a cross-sectional survey on household food insecurity. Mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effects of poverty on both cognitive capacity and psychological distress via food insecurity were significant. Future interventions aiming to alleviate poverty and improving mental health, can therefore consider including food security strategies as a potential action lever.

Amidst the pandemic, the work of many security personnel increased due to the additional requirements of checking vaccination records, temperature-taking, and contact-tracing procedures. There is ample research linking work hygiene and motivator factors (from Herzberg’s two-factor theory) to both job satisfaction and intentions to quit in various types of work settings. However, little is known about what keeps security officers on the job despite the exacerbated challenges posed by the pandemic. We examine how distinct hygiene and motivator factors predict intentions to quit among security officers. One thousand security officers in Singapore participated in a cross-sectional survey that assessed their current job experiences. The findings of this study revealed that job satisfaction plays a mediating effect in the positive relationship between four out of five poor hygiene factors and intentions to quit. Furthermore, the negative mediating effect of job satisfaction between all three motivator factors and intentions to quit was significant. Specifically, the intrinsic motivation for the work itself was the most significant predictor of intentions to stay. Interventions targeted at enhancing work commitment among security officers should highlight the value of security work and its role in maintaining public safety.