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Food Acquisition Coping Strategies Vary Based on Food Security Among University Students
Emily Sklar1,2, Gwen M Chodur2, Leslie Kemp2
1Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
Current Developments in Nutrition
|January 29, 2025
Summary
College students face food insecurity challenges. Many use coping strategies regardless of their food security status, highlighting the need for better assessment tools for student food access.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of food
- Higher education studies
- Public health nutrition
Background:
- Food insecurity is a significant problem on college campuses.
- Student strategies for managing food security disruptions are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess college students' understanding of food insecurity.
- To evaluate students' food security status (FSS).
- To identify food acquisition behaviors and compare them across FSS levels.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study involving 43 at-risk university students.
- Surveys assessed FSS, coping strategies, and resource use; interviews explored understanding and behaviors.
- Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using regression and concurrent triangulation.
Main Results:
- 76% of participants were classified as food secure by USDA standards, yet many described food security challenges.
- Students employed various coping strategies (e.g., couponing, resource sharing) irrespective of their FSS.
- Participants worried their use of food resources might impact others with greater needs.
Conclusions:
- Student food security is complex and may not be fully captured by current assessment tools.
- Findings can inform the development of improved programs and evaluation methods for student food security.
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