Hidden Hunger: Understanding the Complexity of Food Insecurity Among College Students. 2021

Kelsey Fortin, and Susan Harvey, and Stacey Swearingen White
Health Sport and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

The aim of this research was to explore the complexity of college student food insecurity through eating patterns, food assistance, and health of food-insecure university students. A mixed-methods approach utilizing qualitative focus groups and individual interview data and survey quantitative data was used. All data collection took place on campus at a large Midwestern university in the Spring semester of 2018. Participants were Midwestern university students (n = 30), freshman to graduate level classified, with very low food security (USDA-Six Item Short Form). Seven percent (n = 2) were currently enrolled in food assistance programming (SNAP), and 30% (n = 9) reported family enrollment growing up (WIC and SNAP). Seven major themes emerged highlighting nutritional habits, food adaptations, health and well-being impacts, and additional campus programming addressing food assistance. Data triangulation informed a complexity diagram with the major categories of student characteristics of food insecurity, campus resource barriers, additional student needs, health and well-being impacts, and student adaptations and coping influencing the complexity surrounding student food insecurity. College student food insecurity is multifaceted and complex. Common themes emerged among both individual-level factors and university structures, providing a deeper understanding of both the complexity and contributors to the college student experience. Further research and intervention are needed to explore this phenomenon and address student needs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D005523 Food Supply The production and movement of food items from point of origin to use or consumption. Food Supply Chain,Chain, Food Supply,Food Supplies,Food Supply Chains,Supplies, Food,Supply Chain, Food,Supply Chains, Food,Supply, Food
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006815 Hunger The desire for FOOD generated by a sensation arising from the lack of food in the STOMACH.
D000084884 Food Insecurity Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in safe and socially acceptable ways. Food Rationing,Food Insecurities,Insecurities, Food,Insecurity, Food,Rationing, Food
D012959 Socioeconomic Factors Social and economic factors that characterize the individual or group within the social structure. Economic and Social Factors,Social Inequalities,Social Inequality,Social and Economic Factors,Socioeconomic Characteristics,Factors, Socioeconomic,High-Income Population,Land Tenure,Standard of Living,Characteristic, Socioeconomic,Factor, Socioeconomic,High Income Population,High-Income Populations,Inequality, Social,Living Standard,Living Standards,Population, High-Income,Socioeconomic Characteristic,Socioeconomic Factor,Tenure, Land
D013334 Students Individuals enrolled in a school or formal educational program. School Enrollment,Enrollment, School,Enrollments, School,School Enrollments,Student
D014495 Universities Educational institutions providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees. University

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