Effects of COVID-19 on University Student Food Security.

Elizabeth D Davitt,Donna M Winham,Michelle M Heer,Simon T Knoblauch,Mack C Shelley

doi:10.3390/nu13061932

Elizabeth D Davitt, Donna M Winham + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13061932

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Jun 4, 2021
Citations: 46	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Iowa State University

Abstract

During COVID-19 restrictions in spring 2020, college students experienced closed dormitories and increased unemployment and many students moved in with their families. College students were vulnerable to food insecurity pre-pandemic and this study examined how the living situations and food security status changed for Midwestern university students due to COVID-19 restrictions. An email survey administered to Iowa State University students between the ages of 18 and 30 who physically attended campus prior to its closure produced 1434 responses. Students living with a parent or guardian increased by 44% and were less likely to experience food insecurity or less likely to work. They had lower stress and ate more home-cooked meals. Students living on their own had higher rates of food insecurity, greater stress, poorer health status, higher cooking self-efficacy, and worked more hours. Seventeen percent of all students were food insecure; related factors were non-White ethnicity, lower cooking self-efficacy, undergraduate status, receipt of financial aid, employment, stress, living in the same situation as before the campus closure, and consumption of more take-out or fast food. These individuals had more barriers to food access. Knowledge of these factors provide useful information to inform future support services for this population in similar conditions.

Highlights

The economic impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic included increased unemployment, altered social structures, upset housing arrangements, and decreased food security in the United States (US) [1,2,3]
The rates of early pandemic food insecurity were around 17% in the Iowa State University (ISU) students surveyed in April 2020, which were lower than previously recorded rates for ISU in the two preceding years (24–28%) as well as lower than national rates for college students
The findings of this study reveal that food security status is largely predicted by whether students moved home to live with parents/guardians after campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

The economic impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic included increased unemployment, altered social structures, upset housing arrangements, and decreased food security in the United States (US) [1,2,3]. The US saw a distinct rise in food insecurity due to this unprecedented global crisis [4]. Between May and July 2020, 22.5% of people nationally and 18.1% of people in Iowa reported experiencing food insecurity [5]. The COVID-19 pandemic uniquely affected college students due to the closure of campus dormitories and limited campus dining and food outlet availability for the latter part of the spring 2020 semester [7]. Across the US, 1100 colleges and universities transitioned to the online class format for virtual instruction [8] in March 2020. Many students returned home to live with their parents or families because of campus shutdowns, travel restrictions left some international students unable to return to their native country [7]

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