Factors Related to the High Rates of Food Insecurity Among Diverse, Urban College Freshmen

Overview

Journal J Acad Nutr Diet

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2016 May 24

PMID 27212147

Citations 61

Authors

Meg Bruening

Stephanie Brennhofer

Irene van Woerden

Michael Todd

Melissa Laska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity is a persistent public health concern; however, few studies have examined the factors related to food insecurity among college students, particularly college freshmen living in dormitories.

Objective: Our aim was to examine the prevalence of food insecurity and associations with health outcomes among college freshmen.

Design: A diverse sample of freshmen (n=209) attending a large southwestern university and living in campus residence halls completed online surveys. Anthropometrics were measured by trained staff.

Statistical Analyses: Using mixed logistic regression, associations were examined between food insecurity and health outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and clustering of students within residence halls.

Results: Food insecurity was prevalent, with 32% reporting inconsistent access to food in the past month and 37% in the past 3 months. Food-insecure freshmen had higher odds of depression (odds ratio=2.97; 95% CI 1.58 to 5.60) compared to food-secure students. Food-insecure freshmen had significantly lower odds of eating breakfast, consuming home-cooked meals, perceiving their off-campus eating habits to be healthy, and receiving food from parents (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Interventions are needed to support students struggling with food insecurity, as it is related to health outcomes.

Citing Articles

Beyond the Classroom: The Influence of Food Insecurity, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality on University Students' Academic Performance.

Betancourt-Nunez A, Diaz R, Nava-Amante P, Bernal-Orozco M, Diaz-Lopez A, Gonzalez Palacios A Foods. 2024; 13(16).

PMID: 39200435 PMC: 11353649. DOI: 10.3390/foods13162508.

Household food insecurity and its association with academic performance among primary school adolescents in Hargeisa City, Somaliland.

Adam S, Teshoma M, Ahmed A, Tamiru D PLoS One. 2024; 19(7):e0303034.

PMID: 38995972 PMC: 11244796. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303034.

Social Determinants of Health and College Food Insecurity.

Mobley C, Luo Y, Fernandez M, Hossfeld L Nutrients. 2024; 16(9).

PMID: 38732637 PMC: 11085391. DOI: 10.3390/nu16091391.

Prevalence of and Contributors to Food Insecurity among College Athletes: A Scoping Review.

Pacenta J, Starkoff B, Lenz E, Shearer A Nutrients. 2024; 16(9).

PMID: 38732593 PMC: 11085294. DOI: 10.3390/nu16091346.

Sleep, Stress, and Cardiometabolic Health in Women of Childbearing Age with Overweight and Obesity.

Farabi S, Schwarz C, Persaud A, Gilbert A, Haire-Joshu D, Tabak R Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2024; 5(1):143-151.

PMID: 38414886 PMC: 10898232. DOI: 10.1089/whr.2023.0138.

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