Food Insecurity and Psychological Well-Being Among Female-Headed Households in Taraba State, North East Nigeria

Food insecurity is a structural determinant of mental health that disproportionately affects female-headed households in resource-poor settings. This study examines the relationship between food insecurity and psychological well-being among female-headed households in Taraba State, North East Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 240 household heads from six wards in Jalingo metropolitan and two rural local government areas using multistage sampling. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) will measure food insecurity, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index will assess psychological well-being. Sociodemographic variables including household size, number of dependents, livelihood type, and educational attainment will be documented. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis will be employed. Existing research from Northern Nigeria highlights that female-headed households face compounded vulnerabilities due to gender-based economic exclusion and social isolation. Findings from this study will provide evidence for integrated food security and mental health programming in Taraba State, with implications for state-level social protection policies. Keywords: food insecurity, psychological well-being, female-headed households, Taraba State, North East Nigeria