Prevalence and Social Determinants of Food Insecurity among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

TLDR

The COVID‑19 pandemic has amplified unemployment and food insecurity nationwide, and college students already faced higher rates of food insecurity than non‑students before the pandemic. This study aimed to determine how common food insecurity is among college students during the pandemic and identify its social determinants. An online survey of 651 students from three Texas campuses in May 2020 used a two‑step assessment combining the 2‑item Food Sufficiency Screener and the 6‑item USDA Food Security Survey Module. Thirty‑four point five percent of respondents were food insecure, with the strongest predictors being changes in living arrangements, furloughs, layoffs, or loss of part‑time work, underscoring the disproportionate impact of housing and income instability.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has increased unemployment and food insecurity in the United States (US). Prior to the pandemic, college students exhibited higher rates of food insecurity than nonstudent households. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We administered an online survey to 651 students on three diverse campuses at a state-funded university in Texas, US, in May 2020. Food security was assessed using a multistep approach that included the 2-item Food Sufficiency Screener and 6-Item USDA Food Security Survey Module (FSSM). Overall, 34.5% of respondents were classified as food insecure within the last 30 days. The strongest predictors of food insecurity were change in current living arrangement (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 2.47, 2.95), being furloughed (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.86, 3.64), laid off (OR = 4.07, 95% CI: 3.55, 4.66), or losing part-time work (OR = 5.73, 95% CI: 5.09, 6.46) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the high prevalence of food insecurity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with students who experienced housing insecurity and/or loss of income due to the pandemic being impacted the most.