Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding CalFresh Participation in University Students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Food insecurity is a significant issue among university students.
• Understanding the factors associated with food insecurity and program participation is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify demographic and academic differences between food-secure and food-insecure university students.
• To explore knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) related to CalFresh among university students.

Main Methods:

• A survey including the USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module and CalFresh KAPs was administered to 10,000 university students.
• Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, logistic/linear regressions, exploratory factor analysis, and Kendall's tau correlation.

Main Results:

• Food insecurity was significantly associated with Latino/a race/ethnicity, first-generation status, and transfer status.
• Five factors related to CalFresh KAPs were identified, including knowledge, positive/negative attitudes towards participation, and attitudes of others.
• CalFresh knowledge correlated positively with program participation and positive attitudes, but negatively with negative attitudes towards others' participation.

Conclusions:

• CalFresh knowledge appears to be a key factor influencing program participation.
• Targeted efforts to improve CalFresh knowledge among food-insecure student populations are recommended to enhance program uptake.