Understanding Food Insecurity Among College Students: Experience, motivation, and local solutions

Abstract

Food insecurity among college students is higher than the national average of 12.7 percent. Prevalence studies report a range of 14–59 percent of students being food insecure at some point during their college career. This article discusses the meaning and experience of food insecurity among students, its impact on motivation and academic success, and participant suggestions for local solutions. An ethnographic, exploratory study was conducted, including 27 semistructured interviews with food insecure students and five focus groups with food secure students. Food insecurity among students is considered faceless, has no standard image, and is often silent. Most food insecure students were faced with issues of stigma and shame daily, which prevented them from seeking assistance from parents and federal social services. Participants articulated a strong motivation to attend college. Obtaining a degree, securing a better job, and improving their living standards were priorities that outweighed hunger concerns. Alleviating student food insecurity requires multiple local solutions, which should be discreet, protective of student confidentiality, and work to alleviate stigma associated with food insecurity by raising awareness on campus.