The dissertation explores the complex interplay between financial scarcity and its psychological effects, shedding light on its impact on decision-making, avoidance behavior, and perceived control.... Show moreThe dissertation explores the complex interplay between financial scarcity and its psychological effects, shedding light on its impact on decision-making, avoidance behavior, and perceived control. Through a series of experiments, we found that financial scarcity increases temporal discounting, indicating a tendency to prioritize immediate gains over future outcomes. A longitudinal study revealed a reciprocal relationship over time between financial scarcity and avoidance behavior, hinting at the existence of a psychological poverty trap. Furthermore, an experiment demonstrated that financial scarcity increases the tendency to delay bill payments. However, evidence regarding attentional disengagement from financial stressors, assessed with an eye-tracker, remained inconclusive. A global survey spanning 51 societies confirmed the negative link between financial scarcity and perceived control, but also uncovered significant cross-cultural variations. Surprisingly, in societies with lower welfare provisions and institutional quality, the negative relationship between financial scarcity and control was weaker. Likewise, collectivist and traditional values seemed to buffer against the negative effect of financial scarcity on control. The dissertation informs about the psychological reality of dealing with problematic household finances and its consequences on decisions. Show less
The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a clearer picture of the prevalence of food insecurity in the Netherlands and its consequences for dietary quality and health. The studies included in... Show moreThe overall aim of this thesis was to gain a clearer picture of the prevalence of food insecurity in the Netherlands and its consequences for dietary quality and health. The studies included in this thesis provide potential targets for interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity among affected people and families in the Netherlands.Based on this thesis, we can conclude that a considerable number of people in the Netherlands experience food insecurity. The findings described in this thesis provide insight into the consequences: food insecurity is associated with obesity, poor physical and mental health, and poor dietary quality. Our results also illuminate the role of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors and the food environment in these associations. In addition, our findings offer a clearer understanding of the perceived needs, perceptions and barriers regarding healthy eating among people at risk of experiencing food insecurity, as well as suggesting potential interventions. This thesis has shown that the issue of food insecurity needs to be better recognized and addressed in the Netherlands, for example through the development and implementation of population-based and risk group-based interventions for which appropriate screening and targeted interventions should be further explored. Show less
