Food and water security, social support, and psychosocial well-being among internally displaced persons and host communities in Baidoa, Somalia

Food security and water security are important determinants of well-being, yet their relationship with psychosocial well-being remains underexplored among displacement-affected populations. This study examined the associations between food security, water security, and psychosocial well-being among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Somalia. It also assessed whether social support mediates these relationships. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional baseline survey of 1,012 poor IDPs and vulnerable host-community members in Baidoa, Somalia, conducted between July and August 2025. Psychosocial well-being was measured using a seven-item scale adapted to the Somali context. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to estimate associations between food security, water security, social support, and psychosocial well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with 5,000 bootstrap replications was employed to examine the mediating role of social support. Food security (β = 11.397, p < 0.001), water security (β = 4.681, p = 0.027), and social support (β = 0.278, p < 0.001) were positively associated with psychosocial well-being. Food-secure and water-secure households reported significantly higher well-being scores than their food-insecure and water-insecure counterparts. Mediation analysis revealed that social support partially mediated the associations between food security and psychosocial well-being and between water security and psychosocial well-being. The indirect effects accounted for approximately 10.0% and 13.3% of the total effects, respectively. Food security, water security, and social support were positively associated with psychosocial well-being among displacement-affected populations in Somalia. Social support partially mediated the associations between food security, water security, and psychosocial well-being, although most associations operated through direct pathways. Interventions that simultaneously strengthen food security, water security, and social support may help improve psychosocial well-being among vulnerable populations.