Association between precarious employment and emergence of food insecurity in Korean adults: A population-based longitudinal analysis (2008–2022)

Background: Precarious employment (PE) represents an important social determinant of health. This study examined the association between PE and the emergence of food insecurity among Korean adults. Methods: This study included a nationwide sample of 10,481 adults (49,907 observations). PE was characterized as a multifaceted concept that included insecure employment, inadequate wages, the absence of worker rights and protection, and work environments. PE was divided into four groups according to quartile values: lowest, low, high, and highest. Food insecurity was measured using the Six-Item Short Form of the Household Food Security Survey Module. Time-lagged generalized estimating equations were utilized to examine whether engaging in PE was associated with the emergence of food insecurity in the subsequent year. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Result: s: In total, 1.0% of participants experienced food insecurity in the subsequent year. Individuals with low, high, and highest PE levels demonstrated positive associations with food insecurity onset in the following year compared to those with the lowest PE level. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, the RRs of the association between each PE category and food insecurity were 1.49 (95% CI: 0.99–2.25) for the low PE group, 2.74 (95% CI: 1.83–4.09) for the high PE group, and 5.71 (95% CI: 3.86–8.45) for the highest PE group, respectively. Conclusion: PE, a multidimensional concept, was positively associated with food insecurity among Korean workers. Therefore, policy measures to improve employment quality within the workforce are necessary.