Stigma and college students' use of charitable food services: a systematized narrative review

Charitable food systems such as food pantries and food banks are crucial for addressing college food insecurity, yet the utilization of these services is affected by factors such as stigma. This review evaluates how stigma influences college students' use of charitable food services and identifies strategies to reduce stigma. A comprehensive search of Google Scholar, SocIndex, PsycINFO, and PubMed was initially conducted in December 2023 and subsequently updated in July 2024 and March 2025. Included articles were peer-reviewed, published in English after the year 2000, and examined college students' experiences with food pantries or food banks, including stigma-related experiences. Two authors conducted data extraction and synthesis independently, and a third researcher assisted in resolving discrepancies. Ten studies were included. Data were first coded inductively to identify emergent themes and subsequently mapped onto the Stigma and Food Inequity Framework to guide interpretation. At the individual level, students reported anticipated stigma (e.g., embarrassment and anxiety), internalized stigma (e.g., shame), and fear of social isolation associated with food pantry use, as well as stigma at the structural level. Identified strategies to reduce stigma included increasing awareness campaigns, normalizing pantry use, improving confidentiality, and integrating services into student support systems. Recommendations include targeted education, transparent communication, and institutional partnerships to implement stigma-reducing programs.