Moving in With Family During the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Associated With Changes in Food Consumption Among College Students

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess the association between moving in with family during the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in food consumption among college students.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 2,012 undergraduate and graduate students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who completed an online survey about how their food situation has been impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey data were collected in June and July of 2020 and the questionnaire asked about student experiences during the spring 2020 semester up to March 6 (pre-COVID-19), which was when the university went on Spring break and transitioned to remote learning thereafter, and after March 6 (during COVID-19). Changes in food consumption were assessed using questions adapted from the Nurse's Health Study COVID-19 Baseline Questionnaire. Students were asked ifthey moved in with family during the pandemic. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between moving in with family during the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in consumption of certain types of foods. Models were adjusted for potential covariates and statistical significance was considered P < .05.ResultsIn adjusted models, moving in with family was associated with decreased consumption of frozen prepared meals (P < .05), canned or frozen fruits (P < .05), canned or frozen vegetables (P < .05), whole grain foods (P < .05) and increased consumption of sugary drinks (P < .05), fresh fruits (P < .01), fish and seafood (P < .001), and red meat (P < .001). There were no significant associations between moving home and consumption of fast foods; alcohol; sweetened foods like candies, brownies, ice creams, muffins, and cakes; snacks like popcorn and potato chips; and fresh vegetables (not including potatoes) in the adjusted models.ConclusionsWhere college students live may influence if and how the types of foods they consume changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our sample, changes in consumption of certain types of foods were associated with moving in with family.Funding SourcesNone