scholarly journals Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Security Module ◽  
Adult Food

Abstract 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.

scholarly journals Does Students’ Home Zip Code Relate to Food Insecurity on Campus? Implications of Home Demographics on Food Insecurity in College

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
Abigail Sarna ◽  
Jesse Stabile Morrell
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Security Index ◽  
Zip Code

Abstract Objectives To explore the relationship between students’ home zip code demographics and their food security status at a midsized, northeastern university. Methods Data were collected between 2018–2020 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing, cross sectional study at a midsized, public, northeastern university. As part of an online survey (Qualtrics) offered during the 3rd or 4th week of the semester, students completed the 6-item USDA Food Insecurity Questionnaire and provided the zip code associated with their primary residence prior to attending college. Students’ self-reported answers were used to categorize current food security status: food secure, low food secure, or very low food secure. A food security index was created from 13 unique sets of US Census data associated with zip codes. Each zip code was scored by sextiles for each census demographic and summed; final index values were assigned to each reported zip code and ranged from high to low risk of food insecurity (13–78). Results After exclusion of missing data, 687 students were included in the final analysis. The sample of predominantly female (62.0%), white (93.1%), first year (47.7%), and reported a zip code from the home state of the institution (39.9%). The mean food security index (±SD) of reported zip codes was 45.3 ± 8.9. In all, 18.8% reported food insecurity, (5.5% very low food security and 13.2% low food security), and 81.2% reported food security or marginal food security. Food insecurity was highest (21.8%) in students from zip codes most at risk for food insecurity based on the index, however, not significantly different from students from zip codes with the most food secure index score (18.8%). Conclusions Food insecurity among college students has been previously linked to poorer health, grades, and academic retention. More work is needed to elucidate the role of students’ prior place of residence to identify those at greatest risk of experiencing food insecurity on campus. Funding Sources The New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agricultural Hatch Project 1010738.

Food insecurity among college students in West Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 738-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Abu ◽  
Wilna Oldewage-Theron
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Meal Planning ◽  
Texas Tech University

Purpose Food insecurity is an evolving nutrition issue affecting both developed and underdeveloped college campuses. The purpose of this paper is to assess food insecurity and related coping strategies among Texas Tech University students. Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional online survey in Lubbock, Texas, among college students (n=173). The outcome measures, socio-demographic factors, household food insecurity access) and dietary diversity were assessed using validated tools. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Socio-demographic differences in food security status were examined using χ2, and means testing. Risks of student food insecurity were assessed using odds ratios (ORs). Findings Respondents were mostly female (70 percent), non-Hispanic white (58 percent) and young adults’ (median age: 22.0 (20.0, 27.0)), with a median monthly income of $1,000 (0.0, 1,500) and spent about a fifth of their income on food. More students were food insecure (59.5 percent) compared to those who experienced food security (40.5 percent) (p<0.001). Some of the severe food insecure students (16.7 percent) reported going to bed without food (6.9 percent) in the prior 30 days. Students with monthly food budgets of ⩽ $200 were 3.2 times more likely to be food insecure (OR=3.231: CI: 1.353–7.714; p=0.010) compared to those with higher food budgets. A students’ choice of priority monthly expenses was significantly associated with food security status; however, further risk assessment of dichotomous “prioritized food” and “prioritized other expenses” was not statistically significant. Originality/value Student’s food budget of $200 was the strongest determinant of food insecurity. Individual training on money management and meal planning are recommended. University policies should recognize and develop academic support policies addressing competing expenses with food.

scholarly journals The importance of precision: differences in characteristics associated with levels of food security among college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1473-1483
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
International Student ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
High Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Meal Plan ◽  
Level Variable

AbstractObjective:To estimate the prevalence of high, marginal, low and very low food security among a sample of college students and identify characteristics associated with the four different food security status levels and note differences in associations from when food security status is classified as food-secure v. food-insecure.Design:Cross-sectional online survey.Setting:A large public university in North Carolina.Participants:4829 college students who completed an online survey in October and November 2016.Results:Among study participants, 56·2 % experienced high, 21·6 % experienced marginal, 18·8 % experienced low and 3·4 % experienced very low food security. Characteristics significantly associated with food security status when using the four-level variable but not two-level variable were age, international student status and weight status. Characteristics that significantly differed between the marginal and high food security groups included age, race/ethnicity, year in school, international student status, employment status, financial aid receipt, perceived health rating, cooking frequency and participation in an on-campus meal plan. Characteristics with differences in significant associations between the low and very low food security groups were gender, international student status, having a car, weight status and participation in an on-campus meal plan. Even where similarities in the direction of association were seen, there were often differences in magnitude.Conclusions:We found differences in characteristics associated with food security status when using the four-level v. two-level food security status variable. Future studies should look separately at the four levels, or at least consider separating the marginal and high food-secure groups.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Associated with Screening Positive for a Possible Eating Disorder Among Students Attending a Large, Public University in the Midwest (P04-035-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikayla Barry ◽  
Kendrin Sonneville ◽  
Cindy Leung
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Positive Screen ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The University

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity is a critical concern for college students. Food insecurity is associated with stress, irregular eating patterns, weight change, and depression, making it a plausible risk factor for disordered eating in college students, who are already at high risk of eating disorders. We explored the relation between food insecurity and screening positive for a possible eating disorder among students attending a large, public Midwestern university. Methods Data were collected cross-sectionally via an online survey during the Winter 2018 semester. The analytic sample totaled 762 after excluding students with missing data for exposure or outcome. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to measure food security status, which was classified into four categories: food security, marginal food security, low food security, and very low food security. Participants were screened for the presence of a possible eating disorder using the 5-item SCOFF questionnaire, with a positive screen defined as ≥2 affirmative answers. We used Poisson regression to model the prevalence of SCOFF positive screens and item-level affirmative responses by food security categories, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, and first-generation status. Results A higher prevalence of positive SCOFF screens was observed among students with marginal food security (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.67, 1.86), low food security (PR 1.62, 95% CI 1.53, 1.72), and very low food security (PR 2.79, 95% CI 2.65, 2.94), after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Food insecurity was also positively related to prevalence of affirmative responses for four SCOFF items. Conclusions This study shows that college students with food insecurity are more likely to screen positive for a possible eating disorder compared to food secure students. More research is needed to understand the complicated relationship between these two food-related constructs among college students. Funding Sources This study was supported by a grant from Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. One co-author was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Food insecurity, food skills, health literacy, and food preparation activities among young Canadian adults: A cross-sectional analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Alexandra Pepetone ◽  
Lana Vanderlee ◽  
Christine M. White ◽  
David Hammond ◽  
Sharon I. Kirkpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Meal Preparation ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
At Home

Abstract Objective: To assess associations between household food security status and indicators of food skills, health literacy, and home meal preparation, among young Canadian adults. Design: Cross-sectional data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear models to assess associations between food security status and food skills, health literacy, and the proportion of meals prepared at home, by gender. Setting: Participants recruited from five Canadian cities (Vancouver (BC), Edmonton (AB), Toronto (ON), Montreal (QB), and Halifax (NS)) completed an online survey. Participants: 1,389 men and 1,340 women aged 16-30 years. Results: Self-reported food skills were not associated with food security status (P>0.05) among men or women. Compared to those with high health literacy (based on interpretation of a nutrition label), higher odds of food insecurity were observed among men (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.74-3.82 and 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07-2.28), and women (AOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.48-3.70 and 1.92, 95% CI: 1.34-2.74) with lower health literacy. Women in food-insecure households reported preparing a lower proportion of breakfasts (β= -0.051, 95% CI: -0.085 – -0.017), lunches (β= -0.062, 95% CI: -0.098 – -0.026) and total meals at home (β= -0.041, 95% CI: -0.065 – -0.016). Men and women identifying as Black or Indigenous, reporting financial difficulty, and with lower levels of education had heightened odds of experiencing food insecurity. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with other studies underscoring the financial precarity, rather than lack of food skills, associated with food insecurity. This precarity may reduce opportunities to apply health literacy and undertake meal preparation.

scholarly journals Covid-19 and College Students: Food Security Status before and after the Onset of a Pandemic

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 628
Author(s):  
Kaley Mialki ◽  
Lisa A. House ◽  
Anne E. Mathews ◽  
Karla P. Shelnutt
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public University ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Food Insecure Households ◽  
Relief Efforts

While the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the number of food insecure households in the United States (US), it is unclear how it has affected college student food security status. College students are ineligible for many Covid-19-related economic relief programs and may find it even more difficult to cope during the pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and describe the prevalence of food insecurity at a public university before and after the onset of Covid-19 as well as factors associated with any change in food security. Researchers administered a cross-sectional, non-probability survey to college students (n = 3206) that assessed food security status prior to and after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as questions related to various sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Thirty-eight percent of students experienced a change in food security as a result of the pandemic, with 59.6% becoming less food secure, and 40.4% becoming more food secure. Characteristics that were associated with changes in food security included changes in housing and employment status as a result of the pandemic. These findings suggest that the pandemic led to changes in food security among college students, and that economic relief efforts should include college students, who are disproportionately affected by food insecurity.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Association Between Food Insecurity and Obesity Among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 181-181
Author(s):  
Aseel El Zein ◽  
Karla Shelnutt ◽  
Sarah Colby ◽  
Geoffrey Greene ◽  
Wenjun Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the association between food insecurity and obesity and to examine whether it varies by sex. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2017 among college students from eight U.S. institutions. Participants (n = 683) completed the USDA Adult Food Security Survey and had their weight and height measured by researchers. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the sex-specific associations between food insecurity and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), after adjusting for socioeconomic covariates. Results Overall, 25.4% of students identified as food insecure and 10.5% were obese. The prevalence of obesity increased as the level of food insecurity increased, from 5.2% for those with high food security, 13.4% for those with marginal food security, to 17.4% and 21.6% for students with low and very low food security. In logistic regression analysis, marginal, low and very low food security students had an odds ratio of 2.83 (95% CI: 1.43, 5.57), 3.86 (95% CI: 1.88, 7.91), and 5.05 (95% CI:, 2.44, 10.48) of obesity compared to students with high food security, exhibiting a dose-response relationship. Among females, having marginal (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.70, 9.75), low (OR = 4.51, 95% CI: 1.40, 12.47), or very low food security (OR = 7.08, 95% CI: 2.60, 18.41) predicted higher odds of obesity compared to female students with high food security. Among males, those with low food security had higher odds of obesity (OR = 6.40, 95% CI: 1.78, 20.7). Conclusions The association between food insecurity and obesity in U.S. college students remained after adjustment for multiple socio-economic factors. Overall, food insecure females experienced an increase in the risk of obesity as food insecurity increased; however, only males with low food security had an increased risk of obesity. Programs directed toward obesity prevention need to address any level of food insecurity as a risk factor in females, and target males with low food security. Although beyond the scope of this study, it is possible that programs to reduce food insecurity may help prevent obesity in college students. Funding Sources This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014–67,001-21,851.

scholarly journals Assessing food insecurity prevalence and associated factors among college students enrolled in a university in the Southeast USA

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Wooten ◽  
Marsha Spence ◽  
Sarah Colby ◽  
Elizabeth Anderson Steeves
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public University ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
University System ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Southeast Usa ◽  
Final Sample

AbstractObjectiveTo assess rates of food insecurity (FI) among college students enrolled at a large public university system across one US state and identify factors associated with experiencing FI.DesignCross-sectional online survey administered to eligible, enrolled students (n 38 614) across three campuses within the university system, with 5593 students responding (4824 final sample after applying exclusion criteria, 12·5 % response rate). FI was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture’s Adult Food Security Survey Module. Descriptive statistics were conducted to calculate FI status and identify sample characteristics. Associations between FI status and independent variables were assessed using bivariate analyses (χ2 and ANOVA tests) and multivariate logistic regression.SettingLarge public university system, Southeast USA.ParticipantsEnrolled college students (excluding freshman, <18 years of age).ResultsThirty-six per cent of students were classified as FI. After controlling for confounders, factors that were significantly associated with increased likelihood of FI included previous FI (P<0·001; OR=4·78), financial factors and self-reported grade point average ≤3·85. Seniors were significantly more likely experience FI than graduate students (P=0·004, OR=1·41). A significant relationship was not identified between FI and meal plan participation, and no differences in FI were found between graduate students and individuals with sophomore or junior standing.ConclusionsThis research identifies high rates of FI among college students enrolled in a large public university system in the Southeast USA, as well as selected factors related to FI. Programmes to assist college students experiencing FI need to be developed and tested.

scholarly journals Food insecurity, acculturation and diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults in the USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D Smith ◽  
Alisha Coleman-Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Angina Pectoris ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractObjective:To deepen understanding of the relationship between food insecurity, acculturation, and diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults.Design:Using cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey 2011 to 2015, we address two research questions. First, what is the relationship of household food insecurity and acculturation with: CHD, angina pectoris, heart attack, self-rated poor health and obesity? Second, what is the association of food insecurity with these health outcomes over years of living in the USA? We estimate multivariate logistic regressions without (question 1) and with (question 2) an interaction term between food insecurity and acculturation for CHD and related health outcomes.Setting:USA.Participants:Low-income immigrant adults.Results:Food insecurity and acculturation are both associated with diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults. Food insecurity and acculturation are associated with the health of female immigrants more than males. Also, the differences by food security status in the probability of having several poor health outcomes (self-rated heath, obesity, women’s angina pectoris) are largest for those in the USA for less than 5 years, decrease for those who have lived in the USA for 5–14 years, and are larger again for those in the USA for 15 or more years.Conclusions:Recent and long-term food-insecure immigrants are more vulnerable to CHD and related health outcomes than those in the USA for 5–14 years. Further research is needed to understand why.

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