Document Tag: food insecurity

Understanding food insecurity among college athletes: A qualitative study at a public university in New England (2023)

Previous research at a public university in New England, where the current study takes 5 place, has shown that approximately one-third of undergraduate students have experienced some 6 aspect of food insecurity. More recent work at this university has revealed that students who 7 were members of a sports team were four times more likely to be food insecure than their peers 8 who were not on a sports team. The estimated prevalence of student athlete food insecurity from 9 other previous research studies ranged from 14% to 32%. Objective: To understand the 10 contributing factors to food insecurity (FI) among college athletes. Design: This was a 11 qualitative study. Setting: This study took place at a public university in a New England state. 12 Patients or Other Participants: Data is presented for 10 college athletes who experienced some 13 level of FI using the USDA Six-Item Short Form. Data Collection and Analysis: Data was 14 collected using a brief demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Results: 15 Contributing factors included a lack of time, limited campus dining options, and limited access to 16 transportation or kitchens. Coping strategies included buying cheaper foods, skipping meals, and 17 managing time and resources. Food insecurity negatively impacted student’s athletic 18 performance. Study athletes struggled to balance their athletic and academic schedules and 19 obtain a diet that allowed them to meet their performance goals. Conclusions: There is a need 20 for additional and innovative programming to support food insecure student athletes.

No food for thought: Food insecurity is related to poor mental health and lower academic performance among students in California’s public university system (2018)

This study examined the relationships between food insecurity, mental health, and academic performance among college students in a California public university system (N = 8705). Structural equation modeling was performed to examine a direct path from food insecurity to student grade point average and an indirect path through mental health, controlling for demographic characteristics. Food insecurity was related to lower student grade point average directly and indirectly through poor mental health. These findings support the need for future interventions and policy on the importance of providing students with the basic needs to succeed both academically and in the future.

Pathways from Food Insecurity to Health Outcomes among California University Students (2019)

The prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among college students is alarmingly high, yet the impact on student health has not been well investigated. The aim of the current study was to examine the simultaneous relationships between food insecurity and health-related outcomes including body mass index (BMI) and overall health in a college student population. Randomly sampled students in the University of California 10 campus system were invited to participate in an online survey in spring 2015. The analytic sample size was 8705 graduate and undergraduate students. Data were collected on FI in the past year, daily servings of fruits and vegetables (FV), number of days in the past week of enough sleep and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), height and weight, self-rated health, and student characteristics. Using path analysis, mediated pathways between FI, BMI, and poor health were examined through FV intake, number of days of MVPA and enough sleep. Analyses controlled for student characteristics. Mean BMI was 23.6 kg/m2 (SD, 5.0), and average self-rated health was good. FI was directly and indirectly related to higher BMI and poor health through three pathways. First, FI was related to fewer days of enough sleep, which in turn was related to increased BMI and poor health. Second, FI was related to fewer days of MVPA, which in turn was related to increased BMI and poor health. Third, FI was related to fewer daily servings of FV, which in turn was related to poor health. FI is associated with poor health behaviors among college students, which may contribute to higher weight status and poor health. These findings highlight the importance of food security for a healthy college experience.

Food and Housing Insecurity Among Adult Undergraduates During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2023)

The purpose of this study was to examine the variables associated with adult undergraduates’ food and housing insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were derived from the 2020 #RealCollege Survey, which was completed by 25,838 adult undergraduates (≥25 years old) at 72 4-year and 127 2-year institutions in 42 U.S. states. The results suggest that 43.2% of adult undergraduates experienced food insecurity, and 60.6% experienced housing insecurity. Adult undergraduates who had multiple disabilities, grew up in lower-income families, had previously lived in foster care, attended 2-year colleges, and did not live with a spouse/partner had significantly higher probabilities of experiencing food or housing insecurity. Furthermore, first-generation students, international students, or caregivers, parents, or guardians to children had significantly higher probabilities of experiencing food and housing insecurity. Finally, adult undergraduates who experienced COVID-19 pandemic-related academic and financial and health difficulties also had higher probabilities of experiencing food and housing insecurity.

Food Insecurity Among College Students: An Analysis of US State Legislation Through 2020 (2021)

Many US college students experience food insecurity (FI). Given most students are excluded from receiving federal nutrition assistance, additional efforts are needed to alleviate student FI. This perspective discusses proposed and enacted state statutes, resolutions, and bills addressing college FI to date, which range in depth, breadth, and success. Overall, states have demonstrated their promising role in addressing FI; however, college FI promises to be a continuing challenge, particularly given continued widespread unemployment that began with the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 and the global struggle for economic recovery

The Struggle Is Real: A Systematic Review of Food Insecurity on Postsecondary Education Campuses (2017)

Seventeen peer-reviewed studies and 41 sources of gray literature were identified (out of 11,476 titles). All studies were cross-sectional. Rates of FI were high among students, with average rates across the gray and peer-reviewed literature of 35% and 42%, respectively. FI was consistently associated with financial independence, poor health, and adverse academic outcomes. Suggested solutions to address food security among postsecondary institutions addressed all areas of the socioecologic model, but the solutions most practiced included those in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional levels.

FI is a major public health problem among postsecondary education students. Studies are needed to assess the long-term influence of FI among this vulnerable population. More research is needed on the effectiveness of FI interventions.