Document Author: Matthew J. Landry

Research trends and gaps concerning food insecurity in college students in the United States: a scoping review (2024)

Objective: This scoping review explores the broad body of peer-reviewed research measuring food
insecurity in post-secondary students in the U.S. to identify trends and gaps to inform future
research.
Methods: Three search engines (PubMed, Web of Science, and CINHAL Full Text) were systematically
searched for articles reporting on food security status in U.S. college students.
Results: One-hundred and sixty studies met inclusion criteria. Emerging high-risk student
characteristics include gender non-conforming (GNC) and non-binary, financial independence in
college, and pregnant and parenting students. Emerging correlates include lack of transportation,
anxiety, and eating disorders.
Conclusions: Prevalence data can be used by colleges to advocate for services and programs.
Additional multi-institutional cohort, longitudinal and qualitative studies are needed to identify
timely interventions and effective solutions. A new “rights-based” approach to food security solutions
that includes nutrition and food literacy for all students is needed.

Advancing college food security: priority research gaps (2023)

Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among US college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; evaluation of impact, sustainability and cost effectiveness of existing programmes and initiatives; and state and federal policies and programmes. Within these thematic areas, nineteen specific research gaps were identified that have limited or no peer-reviewed, published research. These research gaps result in a limited understanding of the magnitude, severity and persistence of college food insecurity, the negative short- and long-term impacts of food insecurity on health, academic performance and overall college experience, and effective solutions and policies to prevent or meaningfully address food insecurity among college students. Research in these identified priority areas may help accelerate action and interdisciplinary collaboration to alleviate food insecurity among college students and play a critical role in informing the development or refinement of programmes and services that better support college student food security needs.

Food security as a basic need: College students need greater support from institutional administration (2024)

Food insecurity among college students has become a growing concern, with reports documenting
its prevalence for over a decade. As the demographics of university and college students change,
with more first-generation, nontraditional, and minority students, the risk of food insecurity is
heightened. This viewpoint contends that food security is an essential basic need among college
students, and when left unmet, it significantly impacts their well-being, resulting in an increased risk
of poor academic performance or departure from higher education before degree completion. To
combat this issue, universities and colleges must develop and sustain food security initiatives and
programs, with administrators playing a critical role. We highlight key areas in which institutional
administration can take actionable steps to dedicate the necessary support and resources to
proposed and ongoing programs, foster an equitable campus culture, and be advocates for policies
at the state and federal level that promote students’ food security.