food insecurity – Page 2 – SARA GOLDRICK-RAB

Examining prevalence and predictors of food insecurity for transition-age youth transitioning out of foster care (2024)

Transition-age youth with foster care involvement (TAY) face significant risks for food insecurity and other hardships in early adulthood. Using representative survey data of youth transitioning out of foster care in California, we examine the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity. We find that about 30% of study participants were food insecure at ages 19, 21, and 23. We also identify multiple risk and protective factors associated with being food insecure, such as TAY’s sexual identity and receipt of public benefits. The results of our study offer life-stage-specific recommendations for policy and practice to address food insecurity among TAY.

Food Fuels Futures: Expanded SNAP Eligibility Reduces Hunger Among College Students (2024)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services declared and continually
renewed the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration starting in March 2020. Congress and the Trump and Biden administrations authorized various adjustments in SNAP to address the massive economic and health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, during the PHE, Congress authorized two additional exemptions for college students, as well as other SNAP enhancements through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.5 SNAP eligibility was expanded to college students with low incomes who were eligible for work-study or had an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year. These exemptions expired after the end of the PHE on July 1, 2023, meaning that students who met either of these criteria were no longer eligible for SNAP unless they satisfied another exemption or the work-to-eat rule. This report — informed by interviews with college students — sets forth reasons why these expansions were so vital to college students during the PHE and why decision-makers should build on these lessons and eliminate the “work-to-eat
rule” so that more college students can focus on learning rather than being distracted by hunger. Additionally, although the temporary expansions have ended, there is legislation, known as the Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act, which would ensure all students with low incomes facing food insecurity could access SNAP.

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.

Food Insecurity Among Community College Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2024)

Objective: The purpose of this paper was to examine variables associated with food insecurity among community college caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used data from a multi-institutional survey of 15,051 caregivers enrolled at 130 community colleges in 42 states in fall 2020. We used a logistic regression
to examine whether demographic, academic, caregiving-related, financial, or COVID19-related variables were associated with caregivers’ food insecurity. Results: Over half (52%) of community college caregivers experienced food insecurity. Transgender caregivers, first-generation caregivers, and caregivers who were divorced or single, had multiple disabilities, were previously in foster care, and had a family that experienced trouble making ends meet growing up had significantly (p<.05) higher probabilities of experiencing food insecurity. Community college caregivers who used childcare and those with at least one child up to 12years old also had increased probabilities of experiencing food insecurity. Moreover, caregivers who felt childcare was not affordable and believed that they did not earn enough money to make employment worthwhile after paying for childcare expenses had higher probabilities of experiencing food insecurity, as did those who experienced housing insecurity and used Pell grants, student loans, and support from friends or family to pay for college. Losing a job, experiencing cuts to work hours or wages, employment as a frontline worker, and contracting COVID were associated with higher probabilities of food insecurity. Contributions: Community college caregivers experienced high rates of food insecurity during the pandemic and some caregivers were at greater risk of exacerbated probabilities of food insecurity. We advocate for targeted interventions, wraparound services, and increased advocacy for legislation to support student caregivers.

Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Associations with Academic Performance, Food Consumption and Social Support among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: FINESCOP Project in Iceland (2024)

(1) Background: Food insecurity (FI) among university students has received less attention in Europe than in other regions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2022 using an online questionnaire (n = 924). The questionnaire addressed food security status; demographic, socioeconomic, and
educational variables; academic performance; food consumption; and social support networks. The
validated Food Insecurity Experience Scale was used to measure food security. Binary logistic regressions adjusted by age and gender were applied to identify FI-related factors. (3) Results: Just over
17% of the students were living with some level of FI, nearly one in three students reported having
consumed few kinds of food, and 3.9% spent an entire day without eating due to a lack of resources.
Food insecurity was associated with a higher likelihood of negative academic performance, decreased
food consumption, and a lower likelihood of having a large support network, when compared to
food-secure respondents. (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that FI negatively impacts students’
academic performance and food consumption. Future public health programs should be prioritized
to prevent students from experiencing hunger due to financial or resource constraints.

Systematic investigation of inadequate food access at a large southeastern land grant university (2024)

Over the past decade, the impact of low food security on student well-being and academic
performance has become a growing concern at institutions of higher education across the
U.S. This mixed methods study adds to the growing body of evidence on the association
between student socio-demographic and economic characteristics and food security. An
online survey covering food access, student well-being, and housing security was sent to
35,337 undergraduate and graduate students at a large southeastern land grant university.
A total of 2,116 complete responses were received; a 6% response rate. The survey
responses also included 176 written statements by students. The survey found that 16% of
both undergraduate and graduate students had low or very low food security, as defined by
a modified USDA food security measure. The socio-demographic and economic characteristics that were linked to a higher likelihood of low food security included: having a GPA of
less than 3.0, having a disability, being an international student, being a first-generation student, being a transfer student, going into debt to pay for food, being a Black or African American student, having poor mental health, having uncertain living arrangements, and having
no medical insurance. Recommendations for enhancing student access to food, housing,
and mental health services are discussed.

Impact of food security on coping strategies: a comparison of high school and college perceptions (2024)

Objective: To examine coping strategies in relation to student experience of food insecurity during
the transitionary period from high school to college.
Participants: Freshmen undergraduates (n=231) enrolled in one of two public universities during
December of 2021, living in traditional student housing.
Methods: Participants were emailed a link to a USDA 6-item food insecurity and coping strategies
survey to investigate if students’ degree of food insecurity correlates to coping strategies used.
Questions were answered about experiences as a high school senior and college freshman. Data
was analyzed with group comparison tests.
Results: Food insecurity rates approximately doubled from students’ high school experience to
college. Students with lower food security during both their high school and college experience
were significantly more likely to practice coping strategies.
Conclusion: Improving education on utilization of available resources may help students obtain
adequate nutrition, decreasing their need to rely on coping strategies.

Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)

The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased
since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past
studies have not examined how the food security status of
college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study
was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity;
determine the proportion of students experiencing a change
in food security status; and identify characteristics associated
with changes in food security status from before to during
the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students.
We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students
from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The
10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess
food security status during the spring 2020 semester both
before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students
self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall
prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately
one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before
to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the
types of changes in food security status experienced by
students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20%
worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an
improvement or worsening of food security status category
from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in
other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college
students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased
during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students
showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for
addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are
needed.

ECMC Foundation Basic Needs Initiative Evaluation Report 1: Sustaining Basic Needs Services at Postsecondary Institutions (2023)

In the past few decades, the cost of college has risen significantly, while federal, state, and institutional financial aid and family income have remained stagnant or declined (Goldrick-Rab, 2018). As a result, many college students struggle to afford the full cost of college attendance, which includes tuition and fees, expenses to cover food, housing, transportation, child care for student parents, school supplies and access to the internet, and other living expenses (Duke-Benfield & Sponsler, 2019). College students may experience basic needs insecurity, including the lack of access to healthy food, stable housing, reliable transportation, affordable child care, physical and mental health care services, the internet and technology, and other necessities they need to survive and thrive in a postsecondary academic setting. Meeting college students’ basic needs is essential to their well-being and ability to learn and succeed in college (Daugherty et al., 2016; Goldrick-Rab, 2021; Hallet & Freas, 2018; Haskett et al., 2020; Maroto et al., 2015; Phillips et al., 2018; Silva et al., 2017; Trawver et al., 2020; Zhu et al., 2018). To support students’ postsecondary success, ECMC Foundation launched the Basic Needs Initiative, funding seven organizations (hereafter “BNI grantees,” see sidebar) to further the development and sustainability of basic needs services at postsecondary institutions through direct service, technical assistance, and research.

Copyright 2023 | Sara Goldrick-Rab