Food insecurity and political trust amid a public health crisis: government responsiveness and community support

Maintaining political trust during crises is essential for ensuring public compliance with government policies and for the effective management of the crisis. This study examines the relationship between food insecurity and political trust among residents of Shanghai during the city’s stringent COVID-19 lockdown. The findings reveal a strong negative association between food insecurity and political trust. However, this relationship is observed alongside positive associations between political trust and two key dimensions of crisis governance: government responsiveness and community support. These findings suggest that, in the context of Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown, political trust was associated not only with individuals’ experiences of food insecurity but also with their perceptions of government responsiveness and community support. The results provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics between food insecurity and political trust, offering important implications for future crisis governance.