Risk of food and housing insecurity among college students during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess college students’ food and housing insecurity risk amidst the pandemic. Data were collected through an online survey in the summer of 2020 from 1956 graduate and undergraduate students attending a large, private, urban university in the Midwest, U.S. Food insecurity among students increased (25% before; 29% during COVID) with housing insecurity staying roughly the same (34% before; 36% during COVID). Results indicate certain student groups were at greater risk of basic needs insecurity during the pandemic compared to their counterparts. Results also suggest changes in food and housing insecurity trends. College students are burdened with basic needs insecurity, exacerbated during the pandemic. Institutions need to work toward solutions to address the needs of vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by basic needs insecurity. Recommendations on addressing the basic needs of college students are also provided.

College and COVID-19: The Pandemic's reverberations on adolescents and emerging adults on campus

“…Several studies have focused on the types of challenges that young people in college faced and the interconnected risk and protective factors for their psychological wellbeing. The stressors that college students described touch various aspects of their lives: disruption of routines and structures, academics, finances, and isolation [ 11 ], as well as insecurity and concern about food, housing, and being infected by COVID-19 [ 12 , 13 ]. While there is evidence these challenges were faced by students across national contexts (e.g., in Portugal [ 14 ]), in the U.S., concern in these areas was higher for students of color [ 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

“…The stressors that college students described touch various aspects of their lives: disruption of routines and structures, academics, finances, and isolation [ 11 ], as well as insecurity and concern about food, housing, and being infected by COVID-19 [ 12 , 13 ]. While there is evidence these challenges were faced by students across national contexts (e.g., in Portugal [ 14 ]), in the U.S., concern in these areas was higher for students of color [ 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. One study highlighted particular stressors for students who were Asian American because of increased racism due to discourses about the origins of the virus and China [ 18 ].…”

What can COVID‐19 pandemic reveal about public purpose of a University? A case study

“…For the universities, continuing or restarting in person instruction would have increased the likelihood of communities contracting the virus in and outside of the campus (Cipriano et al., 2021 ). Online instruction created other challenges, including mental health problems among students due to social isolation, financial issues for students with limited means, and risks like domestic abuse for students who had to move back into toxic environments (Anderson, 2020 ; Glantsman et al., 2021 ; Kafka, 2020 ; Madaus et al., 2021 ; Piotrowski & King, 2020 ). Thus, universities had to make several difficult decisions, none of which would have appealed to all their stakeholders.…”

Prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among university students – Results from the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany

“…Even before the COVID-19 pandemic about one in three university students in the USA has been confronted with some form of FI ( Nikolaus et al, 2020 ). Evidence from the USA showed that the level of FI has risen above pre-pandemic level ( DeBate et al, 2021 , Glantsman et al, 2022 , Schuler et al, 2020 , Soldavini et al, 2021 , Wolfson and Leung, 2020 ). Suffering from FI leaves university students struggling in many areas of their life.…”