Of the 89.3 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide in 2021, 80% faced food insecurity. Given the consequences of food insecurity for physical and mental health, food insecurity solutions should be evidence-based and seek to prioritize vulnerable populations.

This qualitative study adds to limited literature on how refugees and asylum seekers use their social connections to mitigate food insecurity in high- and upper-middle-income host countries, by investigating how Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica foster social connections and use these connections to acquire and manage food.

This research is significant because it focuses on an understudied protracted migration crisis, can inform future long-term actions that diminish food insecurity, and will advance scientific knowledge on food insecurity and social connection.

Methodology

From October to December 2024, 35 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in San Jose, Costa Rica. For study inclusion, participants had to: 1) be at least 18 years of age; 2) have refugee registration or identify as a migrant fleeing from danger (i.e., an asylum seeker); 3) have migrated from Nicaragua between January 2018 and May 2024; 4) be fluent in Spanish; and 5) provide consent. Participants were recruited through six nonprofit organizations and were interviewed either at the nonprofit or their home. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory and NVivo 15.

Preliminary Results & Conclusion

Participants in the study possess social connections with family, friends, and co-workers, among others. Discrimination, work schedules, and knowledge of places and events influence the ability of refugees and asylum seekers to build social connections. The price and variety of food offered dictates participants’ choice in food retail outlets. If migrants had family already living in Costa Rica, these relatives provided their initial food supply. Neither connection with Costa Ricans nor connection with fellow migrants currently affect participants’ food access.

Previous research focuses on how food aid is shared among social connections. Given that not all refugees and asylum seekers live in camps and receive food aid, this study widens understanding of how the social connections of refugees and asylum seekers influence food insecurity.