Knowledge and perceptions of nutrition assistance programmes among young adult students

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of nutrition assistance programmes among young adult students in the United States, and to identify how the current social and political climate, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has impacted these perceptions and the overall willingness of young adult students to participate in these programmes. Participants were recruited via email and social media to participate in 20-min virtual, semi-structured interviews. Twenty-three participants, between the ages of 18 and 25 years from three states in the United States were interviewed. Ten participants reported having experienced food insecurity (FI) in their lifetime, with 21 participants currently having enough food to eat, while two sometimes did not currently have enough to eat. Seven participants had utilised nutrition programmes in their lifetime. Interviews were video and audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using a six-step thematic analysis. Young adult students were largely unaware of nutrition assistance programmes and eligibility requirements but still perceived these programmes to be successful, with a higher proportion of the participants who had utilised a nutrition assistance programme in their lifetime expressing the view that they were generally successful compared to those who had never utilised one. Most were cognizant of the social stigma surrounding these programmes yet expressed a willingness to utilise them and reported an increased willingness to utilise nutrition assistance programmes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 made young adult students aware of FI and the important role nutrition assistance programmes play in our society. Young adult students expressed the belief that the Biden administration will have a positive impact on nutrition assistance programmes but had a general hesitation to discuss politics. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased young adult students' willingness to utilise nutrition assistance programmes, although, access to these programmes remains low due to a lack of knowledge and general unawareness of programme availability and accessibility. Education is needed to improve overall knowledge of, and facilitate access to, nutrition assistance programmes while combating perceptions around stigma.