Factors Associated with Food Insecurity Among College Students at a Large Northeastern University

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and its associated factors among health sciences students at a large Northeastern University. A cross-sectional web-based survey was emailed to students in the 2019 spring semester. Food insecurity was assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture validated 6-item short-form food security module. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression with food insecurity as the dependent variable was used to analyze the data. The prevalence of food insecurity in this sample was comparable to those found in other studies. The authors found that whilst receiving loans were associated with being food insecure, a diet of better quality, as well as non-utilization of SNAP, was associated with less odds of being food insecure. Interventions to target food insecurity on this health profession campus and other college campuses are needed to reduce the levels of food insecurity among college students and improve their health and academic outcomes.

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