The effect of food insecurity during college on graduation and type of degree attained: evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal survey

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of food insecurity during college on graduation and degree attainment. Design: Secondary analysis of longitudinal panel data. We measured food insecurity concurrent with college enrollment using the 18-question USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Educational attainment was measured in 2015-2017 via two questions about college completion and highest degree attained. Logistic and multinomial-logit models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were estimated. Setting: United States (US) Participants: A nationally representative, balanced panel of 1,574 college students in the US in 1999-2003 with follow-up through 2015-2017 from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Results: In 1999-2003, 14.5% of college students were food insecure and were more likely to be older, non-White, and first-generation students. In adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with lower odds of college graduation (OR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.88, p=0.01) and lower likelihood of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree (RRR 0.57 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92, p=0.02) or graduate/professional degree (RRR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.86, p=0.022). These associations were more pronounced among first-generation students. 47.2% of first-generation students who experienced food insecurity graduated from college; food insecure first-generation students were less likely to graduate compared to first-generation students who were food secure (47.2% vs. 59.3%, p=0.020) and non-first-generation students who were food insecure (47.2% vs. 65.2%, p=0.037). Conclusions: Food insecurity during college is a barrier to graduation and higher degree attainment, particularly for first-generation students. Existing policies and programs that help mitigate food insecurity should be expanded and more accessible to the college student population.

A Decade of College Student Hunger: What We Know and Where We Need to Go

“…A recent study found food-insecure college students have 42% lower odds of graduating (50). These findings were pronounced for first-generation college students, with less than half who experienced FI finishing their education (50). This decline in graduation rate may be attributed to poor academic performance, including lower ability to focus in the classroom, which is amplified among food-insecure students (16,31).…”

“…However, FI impacts the chance of obtaining a degree (49). A recent study found food-insecure college students have 42% lower odds of graduating (50). These findings were pronounced for first-generation college students, with less than half who experienced FI finishing their education (50).…”

“…Unfortunately, food-insecure college students express feeling isolated, unsupported, and an overall lack of belonging (21,72). This disengagement from campus culture is starker among lower SES and underrepresented students (50). This lack of social presence on campus may also contribute to poor health.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Food Insecurity among Mexican University Students’ Households

“…FI is a public health problem that needs attention. Particularly in university students, FI has been positively associated with lower overall self-reported health [13,15,36], more inadequate eating behaviors (such as lower fruit and vegetable intake [13,27,48], no daily breakfast and evening meal consumption [47]), fewer days of physical activity [47,48], fewer days of enough sleep [48], poor sleep quality [33], disordered eating [33], lower grade point average (GPA) [13,15,32,33,36,49,50], lower academic progress [15], difficulty concentrating in class [13], withdrawing from class or the institution [13], lower likelihood of college graduation and obtaining a bachelor's degree or graduate/professional degree [51], poor mental health [47,49], stress [32,33,47] and depressed mood [32,47], and higher BMI [48].…”

Food insecurity is associated with eating disorders independent of depression and anxiety: Findings from the 2020–2021 Healthy Minds Study

“…Moreover, food-insecure college students are more likely to take a reduced course load, neglect coursework, and consider dropping out of college than their food-secure peers (Phillips, McDaniel, & Croft, 2018). Given its associations with these indicators of academic disruption, food insecurity during college may also be associated with longer time-todegree and lower graduation rates (Wolfson, Insolera, Cohen, & Leung, 2021). The relationship with academic performance appears to be explained by the elevated depression, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness associated with food insecurity (Martinez, Frongillo, Leung, & Ritchie, 2020;Raskind, Haardörfer, & Berg, 2019).…”