Food Security
Students were screened for food insecurity using a two-item version of the USDA’s screener for food insecurity. Additionally, students were asked how they handled situations when they had run out of money for food, if applicable.
As a reminder, students had the option to select “Prefer not to answer” for all questions, and these responses were set as missing values. In addition, 186 (8.8%) students did not finish the survey. The n reporting refers to the total number of non-missing responses, while the percent reporting reflects the percent of non-missing responses.
Food Insecurity Screening
Survey Question: These next questions are about the food eaten in your household. Remember that household is determined by the number of people you purchase and prepare food with. This may or may not include your roommates. For the following statements, please state whether they were often true, sometimes true, or never true for you/your household in the last 30 days.
Additional Notes: A two-item version of the validated USDA 10-item food insecurity screening tool1 was used, which has been validated among low-income families2, and has accurately identified household food insecurity in a nationally representative sample3. Students who responded with “Sometimes true” or “Often true” to any of the questions were deemed food insecure. Students also had the option to select “I don’t know,” and these responses were set to missing values.
Summary: In the last 30 days of taking the survey, 936 (55.5%) students reported they worried about food running out before getting money to buy more food. Meanwhile, 829 (48.5%) students reported that the food they bought did not last, and they did not have money to get more.
Food Insecurity Rates
Survey Question: This variable was derived from the questions in Food Insecurity Screening.
Additional Notes: Students who responded with “Sometimes true” or “Often true” to one or both of the questions in the Food Insecurity Screening section were deemed food insecure.
Summary: A total of 1036 (60.3%) students were deemed food insecure. Please note: The majority of the study sample were low-income students, and these rates are not generalizable to all college students.
Ran Out of Money
| If You Ran Out of Money for Food... | Yes (%) |
|---|---|
| I did not run out of money for food (n = 1806) | 856 (47.4%) |
| I started skipping meals. (n = 1806) | 418 (23.1%) |
| I used my credit card (not debit card) to buy food. (n = 1806) | 375 (20.8%) |
| My friends, family, or roommates gave me money for groceries. (n = 1806) | 307 (17.0%) |
| My friends, family, or roommates fed me or took me out to eat. (n = 1806) | 252 (14.0%) |
| I went to the food pantry or other free food organizations. (n = 1806) | 217 (12.0%) |
| I can get free food/meals from my work. (n = 1806) | 103 (5.7%) |
| Other (n = 1806) | 39 (2.2%) |
Survey Question: In the last 30 days, if you ran out of money for food, what did you do? (Select all that apply):
Summary: A total of 856 (47.4%) students reported not running out of money for food in the last 30 days. Meanwhile, when students ran out of money for food, 418 (23.1%) reported that they started skipping meals, 375 (20.8%) reported using their credit card to buy food, 307 (17.0%) were given money from friends/family/roommates, and only 217 (12.0%) reported going to the food pantry or other free food organizations.
Footnotes:
Validation of a 2-item screener for food insecurity among low-income families
Brief assessment of food insecurity accurately identifies high-risk US adults
