Women’s subsistence agricultural employment and its dual association with rural children’s food security in Iran

This mixed-methods study examined the associations between women’s subsistence agricultural employment and the food security of children under five in Mahneshan County, Iran, and explored the mediating role of decision-making power and moderating roles of nutritional knowledge, time constraints, and social support. Quantitative data were collected from 380 rural women with children aged 6–59 months across four seasons (April 2025–March 2026) using the HFIAS, CDDS, A-WEAI, anthropometric measurements, and validated scales. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 18 women. Analyses included multiple regression (hierarchical entry), mediation (PROCESS Model 4 with bootstrapping), moderation (PROCESS Model 1), and directed content analysis, with full methodological reporting aligned with STROBE and COREQ checklists. The prevalence of food insecurity was 87.1%, and stunting was 34.2%. Women’s income share (β = 0.32, p < 0.001) and empowerment score (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) were positively associated with child dietary diversity, while agricultural working hours (β = − 0.11, p = 0.042) showed a negative association. Decision-making power significantly mediated the positive pathway (indirect effect = 0.14, BootCI 0.08–0.21). Nutritional knowledge strengthened the positive association (β = 0.34, p = 0.002), while time constraints exacerbated the negative association (β = − 0.28, p = 0.012). Social support buffered the negative effects (spouse β = 0.22, p = 0.024; family β = 0.15, p = 0.038). Seasonal analysis revealed summer as a critical window of vulnerability, with increased working hours coinciding with decreased dietary diversity. Qualitative findings identified four main themes: strategies for securing child food under constraint, the experience of balancing work and care, socio-cultural barriers, and effective support. Triangulation revealed two instances of dissonance, including cultural normalization of child thinness and instances where empowerment did not translate into action. Women’s subsistence agricultural employment is associated with both beneficial and detrimental effects on child food security. Findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing decision-making power, providing nutrition education, reducing seasonal workload, and strengthening social support systems may help improve child food security.