Identifying the Dimensions of Empowerment and Their Impacts on Food Security in Rural Women

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Kayvan Shoja Chaghervand 1
Alireza Poursaeed 2
Maryam Omidi Najafabadi 1
1 Department of Economics, Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
The present study was conducted to identify the empowerment dimensions of female-headed households in rural areas and their effects on food security in Iran. Based on the data collected from the Iranian Statistical Center, the population of rural women-headed households of Tehran Province included 495 individuals, from which 216 were selected using the stratified random sampling method with proportional allocation. A questionnaire was designed by researchers and its validity and reliability was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach method, respectively. The data were collected from November 2020 to July 2021. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze and estimate the relationships among multiple variables. The results confirmed the dimensions of empowerment as grouping work and communication skills, creativity and solving problem, commitment and responsibility, information and specific knowledge, technical skills and operational work, including psychological, social, political, economic, managerial, and educational factors and their effects on food security. The highest effects on food security belonged to commitment and responsibility, economic factors, and grouping work, respectively. Job empowerment predicted 75% variance in food security. It is suggested to consider job empowerment of female-headed households in rural areas to decrease food insecurity. 

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 27, Issue 6
November and December 2025
Pages 1285-1298