When relocation feels forced: Social identity threat and dietary vulnerability across the food processing continuum.

Abstract

Millions of people relocate each year, yet little is known about how relocation shapes dietary behavior. Drawing on social identity threat and dysplacement frameworks, this research examines how perceived involuntariness shapes food choices across the processing continuum. Three studies provide complementary evidence linking perceived involuntariness to social identity threat and dietary vulnerability. A survey of recently relocated adults finds that perceived involuntariness is associated with greater interpersonal social identity threat. A laboratory experiment suggests that social identity threat is associated with increased preferences for ultra-processed foods. Analysis of large-scale survey data from international migrants suggests that discrimination, a theoretically related source of social identity-relevant threat, is associated with reduced fresh food consumption through emotional distress. Together, the findings suggest that relocation experiences perceived as forced may be associated with greater reliance on ultra-processed foods and reduced fresh food engagement, with implications for health marketing interventions targeting mobile and displaced populations.