Systemic Factors Fuel Food Insecurity Among Collegiate Student-Athletes: Qualitative Findings from the Running on...

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Student Health
• Food Insecurity Research

Background:

• Collegiate student-athletes are at high risk for food insecurity (FI), with prevalence rates varying widely.
• Balancing academic and athletic demands, alongside financial constraints, exacerbates FI risk for student-athletes, whether living on or off campus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of professionals in identifying and addressing food insecurity among student-athletes.
• To understand the systemic factors contributing to food insecurity in collegiate athletes.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative phenomenological study utilizing a constructivist theoretical framework.
• Online focus groups were conducted with athletic trainers, sports dietitians/nutritionists, and other professionals (n=27) working with student-athletes.
• Participants had extensive experience in collegiate athletics, averaging over 7 years.

Main Results:

• Five distinct approaches to FI screening were identified: none, variable by team, informal, dietitian-led, and formal.
• Key social determinants of FI included financial challenges, competing priorities, cultural factors, limited life skills, and the food environment.
• These determinants operated on individual, team/athletic department, and university/societal levels.

Conclusions:

• University and athletic department policies and budgets can negatively impact student-athlete food security.
• Effective FI mitigation strategies must extend beyond individual-level interventions.
• Achieving food security for collegiate student-athletes necessitates systemic changes at both the athletic department and university levels.