College Student Food and Housing Insecurity: Students’ Perceived Determinants, Consequences, and Resilience (2023)
This qualitative study was designed to explore contributing factors to and consequences of college students’ food and housing insecurity as well as protective factors for retention. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis of interviews with 13 demographically diverse students at a public university who had experienced recent food insecurity and/or homelessness. Results revealed themes of the dynamic experiences of food and housing insecurity, the interplay of these with transportation, and risk and protective factors contributing to their resilience as indicated by persistence in college. We provide policy and practice recommendations based on the findings and directions for future research.