Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2
Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Abstract
In recent decades, the water crisis has moved beyond being a purely environmental issue and has become a multidimensional phenomenon with social, psychological, and institutional consequences. Nevertheless, the dominant focus of existing studies remains on material, economic, and public health aspects. In this context, the concept of perceived water insecurity, with its emphasis on subjective experiences, social meanings, and the psychological consequences of unstable access to water, highlights a critical gap in the literature.
This article aims to conceptualize perceived water insecurity as a socio-human issue by examining its determinants, consequences, and coping mechanisms. The theoretical framework integrates socio-ecological theory and intersectionality, which shows how structural inequalities, power relations, and social differences are “embodied” in the lived experiences of individuals and lead to psychosocial consequences.The study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach based on a review of relevant theoretical and empirical literature.
The findings indicate that perceived water insecurity is shaped by diverse social factors and produces multi-level consequences, including anxiety, chronic stress, social shame, weakened family relationships, declining institutional trust, social conflicts, and the intensification of poverty cycles. Households respond through various coping strategies—such as purchasing water from markets, relying on support networks, and adopting psychosocial strategies—which may themselves reproduce existing inequalities. Overall, the article argues that understanding and managing the water crisis requires simultaneous attention to its material, social, and psychological dimensions, as well as a rethinking of water policies through the lenses of social justice and public health.
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