A. El Zein|Karla P. Shelnutt|Sarah Colby|Melissa J. Vilaro|Wenjun Zhou|Geoffrey Greene|Melissa D. Olfert|Kristin Riggsbee|Jesse Stabile Morrell|Anne Mathews
Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among U.S. college students: a multi-institutional study
University of Florida|University of Florida|University of Tennessee at Knoxville|University of Florida|University of Tennessee at Knoxville|University of Rhode Island|West Virginia University|University of Tennessee at Knoxville|University of New Hampshire|University of Florida
college students may vulnerable food insecurity due limited financial resources decreased buying power federal aid rising costs tuition housing food study assessed prevalence food insecurity sociodemographic health academic food pantry correlates among firstyear college students united statesa crosssectional study conducted among firstyear students n 855 across eight us universities food security status assessed using us department agriculture adult food security survey module cohens perceived stress scale pittsburgh sleep quality index eating attitudes test26 used assess perceived stress sleep quality disordered eating behaviors respectively participants selfreported grade point average gpa completed questions related meal plan enrollment utilization oncampus food pantriesof participating students 19 foodinsecure additional 253 risk food insecurity students identified racial minority lived offcampus received pell grant reported parental education high school less participate meal plan likely foodinsecure multivariate logistic regression models adjusted sociodemographic characteristics meal plan enrollment indicated foodinsecure students significantly higher odds poor sleep quality 232 95 ci 143376 high stress 465 95 ci 266811 disordered eating behaviors 249 95 ci 120490 gpa 30 191 95 ci 119307 compared foodsecure students finally half students 564 oncampus pantry aware existence 222 foodinsecure students endorsed utilizing pantry food acquisitionfood insecurity among firstyear college students highly prevalent implications academic performance health outcomes higher education institutions screen food insecurity implement policy programmatic initiatives promote healthier college experience campus food pantries may useful shortterm relief however limited use students suggest need additional solutions rightsbased approach food insecurityretrospectively registered clinicaltrialsgov nct02941497