INTERTWINED VULNERABILITIES: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF FOOD INSECURITY, DIET QUALITY, AND MENTAL DISTRESS AMONG SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Dhia Widyan Baharuddin, Lee Yi Chen, Abdul Mutalib Embong, Wan Zulkifli Wan Kassim, Muhammad Zuhaili Suhaimi, Mohd Radhi Abu Shahim, Shamsul Azahari Zainal Badari and Muhamad Khairul Zakaria

Abstract

Abstract
In Malaysia’s evolving higher education landscape, students from the B40 (bottom
40%) income group face multifaceted vulnerabilities that extend beyond academic
demands. This conceptual paper proposes the Intertwined Vulnerabilities Model
(IVM), a theoretical framework that synthesizes multidisciplinary literature, to explore
the relationships among food insecurity, diet quality, and mental distress among
socioeconomically disadvantaged university students. Drawing from Scarcity Theory,
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the Nutrition Transition Model, this paper
positions food insecurity as not merely a nutritional challenge but a systemic
determinant of cognitive and psychosocial functioning. While poor diet quality
frequently coexists with food insecurity, its impact may be moderated by behavioral,
educational, and structural variables such as food literacy, social support, and
campus food policy. Conversely, the link between food insecurity and mental
distress is theorized as more direct and exacerbated by financial strain and social
stigma. The IVM emphasizes a dynamic interaction of mediators and moderators,
encouraging more precise delineation of the mechanisms at play. The model’s
conceptual boundaries and assumptions are clarified to provide a robust foundation
for future empirical testing. This paper adopts a theory-building approach,
synthesizing findings through a narrative literature review, and outlines the potential
for qualitative and mixed-method validation. The proposed model contributes to
policy discussions aligned with Malaysia’s National Plan of Action for Nutrition
(NPANM III) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2 and SDG 3). The
implications are twofold: (1) it offers a policy-relevant scaffold for developing
multidimensional interventions in university settings, and (2) it stimulates further
research across public health, psychology, and education disciplines.

Keywords: Conceptual framework, Food insecurity, Diet quality, Mental distress,
Malaysia