Document Category: Research study (not in a journal)

Persistent and Changing Food Insecurity Among Students at a Midwestern University is Associated With Behavioral and Mental Health Outcomes (2023)

Purpose
To assess associations between persistent and changing food insecurity and behavioral and mental health outcomes in college students.
Design
Online surveys conducted November 2018 and March 2019 (freshman year), and March 2020 (sophomore year) were used to assess food insecurity, which was then used to create 4 food security transitions: persistent food insecurity, emergent food insecurity, emergent food security, and persistent food security.
Setting
Large Midwestern university.
Sample
593 students completing all 3 surveys.
Measures
Dietary intake and behavioral and mental health outcomes (eating disorders, anxiety, depression, sleep quality) were assessed using validated instruments.
Analysis
Associations between food security transitions and dietary intake, behavioral, and mental health outcomes were examined using generalized linear models.
Results
Compared to persistent food security, emergent and persistent food insecurity was associated with lower (7% and 13% respectively) intake of fruits and vegetables combined; persistent food insecurity was associated with 17% lower intake of fruits, 6% lower intake of fiber and 10% higher intake of added sugar from beverages. Compared to persistent food secure students, eating disorder symptom risk was higher for emergent food insecure (OR = 7.61, 95% CI: 3.32, 17.48), and persistent food insecure (OR = 6.60, 95% CI: 2.60, 16.72) students; emergent (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.71) and persistent (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.87) food insecure students had higher odds of poor sleep quality, and persistent food insecure, emergent food insecure, and emergent food secure students had higher odds of anxiety and depression (OR range 2.35-2.85).
Conclusion
Food security transitions were associated with aspects of low diet quality and poorer behavioral and mental health outcomes among college students.

Experimental estimates of college coaching on postsecondary re-enrollment (2024)

College attendance has increased significantly over the last few decades, but dropout rates remain high, with fewer than half of all adults ultimately obtaining a postsecondary credential. This project investigates whether one-on-one college coaching improves college attendance and completion outcomes for former low- and middle-income income state aid recipients who attended college but left prior to earning a degree. We conducted a randomized control trial with approximately 8,000 former students in their early- to mid-20s. Half of participants assigned to the treatment group were offered the opportunity to receive coaching services from InsideTrack, with all communication done remotely via phone or video. Intent-to-treat analyses based on assignment to coaching shows no impacts on college enrollment and we can rule out effects larger than a two-percentage point (5%) increase in subsequent Fall enrollment.

Which Eligible Philadelphians Are Not Accessing Public Benefits? (2023)

Across the United States, people with low incomes, meaning those who earn less than 150 percent of the federal poverty threshold ($41,207 for a family of four in 2021), may be eligible to receive public benefits. In Philadelphia, about one-third of residents have low incomes, including more than 40 percent of the city’s Chinese and Hispanic
residents and about 40 percent of its Black residents. Meanwhile, just 18 percent of white non-Hispanic Philadelphia residents have low incomes.

The public benefit system, however, doesn’t reach every eligible group equally. To better understand which Philadelphia residents receive the public benefits they are eligible for, we used data from the American Community Survey 2017–21 five-year sample to compare the demographic makeup of Philadelphians with low incomes who reported receiving benefits with that of those who did not report receiving benefits. People are counted as receiving benefits if they are in a household where at least one person reported receiving either SNAP, SSI, TANF, or general assistance.

Although these results suggest areas for improvement in outreach and engagement, benefit receipt tends to be underreported in survey data, so these findings should not be considered a definitive analysis of who does and does not receive benefits. People may also be ineligible for benefits for various reasons, including immigration status.

An exploration of trauma-inclusive pedagogy and students’ perceptions of academic success (2023)

While trauma-inclusive approaches to student learning have been well documented in K–12 contexts, postsecondary education has done little to incorporate trauma-inclusive pedagogy into college classrooms. Using a sample (n = 529) of graduate and undergraduate students at a public rural-serving regional serving university, this study aims to explore differences in students’ perception of academic success in courses where trauma-inclusive practices were used and courses where these practices were not. Findings provide evidence that students felt more successful in courses where trauma-inclusive practices were used. Additionally, researchers were able to demonstrate that differences in perceptions of success were more pronounced between students who have been exposed to traumatic life experiences, particularly in the course where participants felt the least successful. Implications for future research, practice, and models of educational development are discussed.

Oregon State University Food Security Study Executive Report (2021)

Food insecurity (FI) is a growing concern on college campuses. Upon request from the Oregon State University (OSU) Food Insecurity Taskforce, this report outlines findings from the first formal assessment of the prevalence and patterns of FI among OSU students on the three campuses—Corvallis, Cascades, and Ecampus—during Fall and Winter terms, 2020-2021. FI was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 10-item Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) with a 2-item food sufficiency screener. At Corvallis and Cascades campuses, two sampling strategies were employed in an effort to improve upon existing sampling methods commonly used for estimating FI among college students. Findings from this assessment can be used to inform OSU’s plan to ensure equitable food access among all students.

Oregon State University Food Security Study (2022)

Food insecurity (FI) is an ongoing concern on college campuses across the U.S. Food insecurity is defined by the United Stated Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service as a lack of access to enough food for an active and healthy life (USDA ERS, 2022). This report summarizes findings from the second formal study of the prevalence and patterns of FI among OSU students on the Corvallis campus, conducted in Spring 2022. FI was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 10-item Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) with a 2-item food sufficiency screener (as shown in Appendix A). Two sampling strategies were employed in an effort to improve upon existing sampling methods commonly used for estimating FI among college students. These findings can be used to inform OSU’s plan to ensure equitable food access among all students.

Food insecurity among Black college students: An exploratory study (2023)

Literature suggests that food insecurity negatively affects academic well-being and sense of belonging among college students; however, limited research has focused on Black students. This exploratory study examines the prevalence and impact of food insecurity among Black students. The results indicate that a greater proportion of Black students experienced food insecurity compared to White students. Additionally, this study found that Black students to not experience the same negative consequences of food insecurity as White students and that these negative consequences may be offset due to Black students’ higher level of engagement and resource utilization. Implications for social workers are discussed.