Food insecurity among postsecondary students in developed countries

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct a narrative review of the food insecurity literature pertaining to university and college students studying in Very High Human Development Index countries. It aims to document food insecurity prevalence, risk factors for and consequences of food insecurity and food insecurity coping strategies among students. Design/methodology/approach English articles published between January 2000 and November 2017 were identified using electronic databases. Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies assessed the study quality of quantitative research. Findings A total of 37 quantitative, three mixed-methods and three qualitative studies were included from 80,914 students from the USA (n=30 studies), Australia (n=4), Canada (n=8) and Poland (n=1). Prevalence estimates of food insecurity were 9–89 percent. All quantitative studies were rated weak based on the quality assessment. Risk factors for food insecurity included being low income, living away from home or being an ethnic minority. Negative consequences of food insecurity were reported, including reduced academic performance and poor diet quality. Strategies to mitigate food insecurity were numerous, including accessing food charities, buying cheaper food and borrowing resources from friends or relatives. Research limitations/implications Given the heterogeneity across studies, a precise estimate of the prevalence of food insecurity in postsecondary students is unknown. Practical implications For many students studying in wealthy countries, obtaining a postsecondary education might mean enduring years of food insecurity and consequently, suffering a range of negative academic, nutritional and health outcomes. There is a need to quantify the magnitude of food insecurity in postsecondary students, to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to reduce the impact of food insecurity on campus. Originality/value This review brings together the existing literature on food insecurity among postsecondary students studying in wealthy countries to allow a better understanding of the condition in this understudied group.

Feeding inequality: food insecurity, social status and college student health

“…Empirical evidence on food insecurity among college students remains very limited both within the United States and globally. While some studies have shown high rates of food insecurity among universities in Canada, Australia and Poland, the large majority of the studies have been conducted in the United States (Lee et al 2018). Given consistently high rates of food insecurity among college students, some scholars have made comparisons to the national estimates and noted that they appear elevatedthe data for these estimates is limited, though, and very few utilise random samples.…”

Expenditure, Coping, and Academic Behaviors among Food-Insecure College Students at 10 Higher Education Institutes in the Appalachian and Southeastern Regions

“…In recent years it has been determined that college students comprise a population greatly affected by food insecurity (25, 26), with rates of food insecurity on college campuses as high as 59% being identified (25–27). Many studies have examined correlates of college food insecurity and have found a number of the aforementioned health and behavioral effects of food insecurity also present in the college population, including risk of physical and mental illness (6, 17, 26, 28) and poor diet quality (8, 17, 26). These detriments of food insecurity can be especially harmful to college students, who often experience high stress, adjustment issues, and pressure to succeed (29, 30).…”

“…Geographic variability is lacking in the college food-insecurity literature, especially for regions that are at high risk for food insecurity. It is apparent that food insecurity can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of college students (25, 26), but the magnitude of these effects has not been largely studied within the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States (6, 8).…”

Investigating food insecurity measurement globally to inform practice locally: a rapid evidence review

“…The HFSSM has been identified as the indicator of choice to be implemented in the UK, albeit in the 10-item form (as opposed to the 18-item module used in the US and Canada which includes questions relating to child FI) (Butler 2019). Similarities between the UK and North America with regards to both being 'very high human development' index countries (Lee et al 2018;UNDP 2018) would indicate that measurement approaches used successfully in North America are likely to also be feasible for use in the UK, therefore the recent decision to use the HFSSM as an indicator for FI in the UK (Butler 2019) is appropriate.…”