Abstract
Food insecurity is much higher among university students than the general population, and is linked with poorer mental health, diet and academic achievement. The aim of this study was to explore the level of food insecurity among a sample of Australian university students and determine which socio-demographic and student characteristics predict food insecurity. An online cross-sectional survey with students from the University of Newcastle, Australia was conducted in 2017–2018. Food insecurity was assessed using the 6-item US Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module, and socio-demographic (e.g., age, living situation) and student characteristics (e.g., undergraduate/postgraduate student) were captured. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the odds of food insecurity for each of the socio-demographic and student characteristics, and included characteristics of significance in bivariate analyses as potential confounders. Data for 366 students were analysed (mean age 27.3 ± 10.4 years, 27.3% male). Forty-eight percent of participants were food insecure. The odds of food insecurity were higher among students living in rental accommodation compared with their parents’ home (OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.41, 4.06), and undergraduate compared with postgraduate students (OR = 3.50, 95% CI 1.83, 6.69). Commencing university and moving away from parents may be key times for intervention. Strategies that can provide longstanding benefit are needed to address the high level of food insecurity among university students.
Highlights
Food security is where “all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life“ [1]
The aim of the current study was to explore the level of food insecurity among a sample of Australian university students using a comprehensive measure (USDA FSSM), and determine which socio-demographic and student characteristics predict food insecurity
The indicators of financial status used in the current study, the number of hours students worked and whether they received financial support, were not significantly associated with food insecurity, measuring income directly may have shown a different result. These findings suggest that when students commence university for the first time may be a key time to implement preventative strategies for food insecurity, and that strategies should target students from lower socio-economic backgrounds
Summary
Food security is where “all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life“ [1]. I.e., the absence of this, is a widespread issue among university students internationally [2]. A recent systematic review of 18 studies among university students from five countries found an average rate of food insecurity of 42% [2], with the majority of these studies in western countries, including nine in the USA and three in Australia. The reported rates of food insecurity among university students is much higher than the general population. The impact of food insecurity among university students is significant. It has been associated with poorer mental health, including higher odds of having symptoms of depression and lower self-rated mental health status [6,7], poorer diet, predominantly lower fruit and vegetable intakes, as well as lower
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