Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff

Abstract

Assessments of the severity of food insecurity within Australian university students are lacking, and the experience of food insecurity in Australian university staff is unknown. A cross-sectional online survey in March 2022 aimed to characterize the severity of food insecurity in students, professional and academic staff at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). The Household Food Security Survey Module six-item short form assessed food security status in addition to seven demographic and education characteristics for students and six demographic and employment characteristics for staff. Participants were categorized as having high, marginal, low, or very low food security. Multivariate binary logistic regression identified students and staff at higher risk of food insecurity. Among student respondents (n = 1257), the prevalence of food insecurity was 41.9% comprising 8.2% marginal, 16.5% low, and 17.3% very low food security. Younger, non-binary, first-year enrolled, on campus, and international students were at significantly higher risk of food insecurity. Among staff (n = 560), 16.3% were food insecure comprising 3.8% marginal, 5.5% low, and 7.0% very low food security. Professional staff, staff on casual contracts, and staff recently employed, were at significantly higher risk of food insecurity. Our findings suggest a high occurrence of food insecurity in UTAS students and staff, with a large proportion of food insecure staff and students experiencing very low food security. Our findings have implications for efforts towards reducing food insecurity at university campuses through a holistic and integrated approach, advocating for food systems that support healthy, sustainable, and equitable food procurement and provision for both university students and staff.

Higher Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress among International University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Perspective

“…This provides an opportunity for universities to pilot potential initiatives and assess feasibility and acceptability. Shifting from a food relief reliance model to food social enterprises can be a promising initiative to increase availability and improve accessibility to fresh food, such as fruit and vegetables, on campus [ 31 ]. Furthermore, large-scale interventions can be implemented in the university sector with local and state government support.…”

“…In the Australian context, there is emerging evidence about the flow-on effects of disruptions on the mental health of university students [ 10 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In regard to food security, there is also recent evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted domestic and international students [ 31 , 32 ]. A few studies elsewhere show the disproportionately greater impact on the international student cohort [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Association between food insecurity status, campus food initiative use and diet quality in Australian university students

“…Our survey results, however, adopt the same survey tool as Kent et al, who estimated the prevalence of food insecurity in students at another Australian university as 42% (8% marginal, 17% moderate and 17% severe food insecurity) in early 2022. 9 The increased prevalence in our study may be setting-specific or it could reflect increases in the cost of food, particularly healthy food, 26 in late 2022 that resulted from rapid inflation and the food supply challenges associated with climateinduced disasters and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, housing costs, especially for renters in Australia, have increased substantially, placing many young adults at further significant economic disadvantage.…”

“…3 Within the Australian context, our findings indicate a higher prevalence of food insecurity than previously published prevalence data among university students (13%-48%). [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The differences in prevalence between studies may be partly related to the use of different food insecurity measures and the inclusion (or exclusion) of marginal food insecurity from food insecurity estimates. Our survey results, however, adopt the same survey tool as Kent et al, who estimated the prevalence of food insecurity in students at another Australian university as 42% (8% marginal, 17% moderate and 17% severe food insecurity) in early 2022.…”

“…2 International research reports that university students are more vulnerable to food insecurity compared with the general population. 3 The prevalence of food insecurity among Australian university student populations ranged from 13% to 48%, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] which varies depending on the study setting, student sample and food security measurement tool used. These prevalence statistics, including the notable variability in the prevalence of food insecurity in this population, reflect published literature from other high-income countries.…”