A High Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among University Students in Appalachia Reflects a Need for Educational Interventions and Policy Advocacy

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 564 - 572
• Main Authors: McArthur, Laura Helena, Ball, Lanae, Danek, Ariel C., Holbert, Donald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2018
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; advocacy; Appalachia; Appalachian Region; college students; Cooking; coping strategies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; females; Food - statistics & numerical data; food insecurity; Food Preferences - psychology; food security; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Health Policy; Health Status; healthy diet; Humans; issues and policy; Male; males; North Carolina; Prevalence; purchasing; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Universities; variance; Young Adult; North Carolina; Appalachian Region; Appalachian region; coping strategies; food insecurity; Appalachia; college students
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2017.10.011

To measure prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among college students in Appalachia, compare food-insecure and food-secure students on correlates, and identify predictor variables. Cross-sectional, online questionnaire. University in Appalachia. Nonprobability, random sample of 1,093 students (317 male [30.1%]; 723 females [68.4%]). Food insecurity, coping strategies, money expenditure, academic progress, and demographics. Correlational, chi-square, and regression. A total of 239 students experienced low food security (21.9%) whereas 266 had experienced very low food security (24.3%) in the past 12 months. Predictor variables were higher money expenditure and coping strategy scale scores, lower grade point averages, male gender, receiving financial aid, fair or poor self-rated health status, and never cooking for self or others. These variables accounted for 48.1% of variance in food security scores. Most frequently used coping strategies included purchasing cheap, processed food (n = 282; 57.4%), stretching food (n = 199; 40.5%), and eating less healthy meals to eat more (n = 174; 35.4%). Food-insecure students need interventions that teach budgeting skills and how to purchase and prepare healthy foods, as well as policies that increase access to food resource assistance.