Food insecurity on a college campus: Prevalence, determinants, and solutions.

Emilie Adamovic, Peter Newton, Veronica House
Author Information
  1. Emilie Adamovic: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
  2. Peter Newton: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community, Boulder, Colorado, USA. ORCID
  3. Veronica House: Program for Writing and Rhetoric, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Abstract

Students are at risk of food insecurity. We aimed to determine: the prevalence of food insecurity among students; the variables associated with student food insecurity; and appropriate solutions. We collected data from 339 students at a large state university in the western United States between December 2016 and February 2017. We used an anonymous online survey that incorporated the USDA US Six-Item Short Food Security Survey. First, 54% of respondents had been food insecure within the last year. Second, students in receipt of financial aid were significantly more likely to be food insecure. Third, respondents proposed solutions to student food insecurity that included on-campus food assistance programs, education initiatives, and off-campus food assistance programs. Our paper contributes to a growing body of knowledge about the extent and causes of, and solutions to, food insecurity among college students.

Keywords

MeSH Term

Cross-Sectional Studies
Food Insecurity
Food Supply
Humans
Prevalence
Socioeconomic Factors
Students
United States
Universities

Word Cloud

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