Changes in Food Security Status During Undergraduate Enrollment
Cara L Cuite1, Kelly E Dietz2, La Reina J Bates3
1Department of Human Ecology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
|November 13, 2022
Summary
Student food insecurity increased significantly from 2016 to 2019. First-generation students faced higher risks, and food insecurity impacted academic performance, highlighting the need for ongoing support.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Higher Education Studies
- Sociology
Background:
- Student food security is a growing concern in higher education.
- Understanding changes in food security status over time is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate shifts in undergraduate food security status (FSS) during college.
- To identify demographic factors associated with changes in FSS over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two cross-sectional surveys (2016, 2019) of 338 undergraduates.
- Employed McNemar-Bowker and Wilcoxon signed rank tests to analyze within-student FSS changes.
- Used logistic regression and ANCOVA to examine correlates of FSS and its impact on GPA.
Main Results:
- Food insecurity prevalence rose from 22.4% (2016) to 41.0% (2019).
- First-generation students exhibited persistent food insecurity and a higher likelihood of worsening FSS.
- Experiencing food insecurity correlated with a lower Grade Point Average (GPA) in 2019.
Conclusions:
- Cross-sectional data underestimates the dynamic nature of student food insecurity.
- Longitudinal research is essential to understand factors influencing FSS changes.
- Universities should provide broad access to food resources for all students.
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