Linking water (in)security and wellbeing in low-and middle-income countries

Abstract

Despite the centrality of water for human wellbeing and prosperity, researchers and practitioners have few tools to conceptualize, quantitatively measure, and assess any relationships between water security and overall wellbeing. There is substantial evidence showing well-established connections between water insecurity and dimensions of wellbeing including psychosocial health, physical health, personal beliefs, social relationships and human-environment interactions, however, we do not yet fully understand how water insecurity impacts overall wellbeing. Water related emotional distress is often used as a proxy for wellbeing, however, there are multiple definitions and measurements of emotional distress and wellbeing, and the analytical tools for measuring emotional distress and wellbeing are in their infancy. We examined how water insecurity is linked to emotional distress and wellbeing, and the associated pathways and to advance connections between water insecurity and population wellbeing. Conceptualizing, measuring and tracking the effect of water insecurity on overall wellbeing may provide better measures of the holistic effect of water security and provide better metrics for water projects evaluation.