Relationships Among Food Choice Motivators, Food Insecurity, and Academic Outcomes

Abstract

ABSTRACT To identify relationships between food choice motivators (FCM) and food security in university students, a questionnaire assessing food security and FCM was distributed in Winter 2020 to 10,000 university students (1,535 responses; 1,408 included in demographic analysis, 1,189 included in other analyses). Chi-square test of independence, logistic and linear regressions assessed associations among food security, FCM, and demographics. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) determined factors of FCM. Kendall’s tau assessed association between FCM and food insecurity. EFA identified three factors of FCM: (1) Hedonics, (2) Constraints, and (3) Nutrition Knowledge. Food insecurity was associated with Hedonics, Constraints, and other demographics.