Abstract
Background: The number of food pantries on U.S. college campuses has increased in response to students’ food insecurity, but limited information is available to describe the impact of this resource. The objective of this cross-sectional investigation was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and food pantry awareness, use, and perceived barriers to use. Methods: Students attending the University of Florida in fall 2017 (n = 899) completed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Adult Food Security Survey and responded to questions about food pantry awareness and use. Sociodemographic data were also collected and included in multivariate logistic regression models. Results: While most students (70%) were aware of the existing food pantry, nearly a third of respondents were classified as being food insecure. After adjusting for sociodemographic correlates, factors such as identifying as being food insecure, international status, and receiving a student loan or a need-based federal financial aid (Pell grant) increased the likelihood of utilizing the campus food pantry. Despite these predictors, only 38% of food insecure students reported food pantry use. Among students who provided qualitative insights, four main barriers to using the on-campus food pantry were identified: social stigma, insufficient information on pantry use policies, self-identity, and inconvenient hours. Conclusions: Food security interventions and administrative policy should consider a new model of the traditional campus food pantry that reduces concerns of social stigma and is supported by clear and ongoing communications of operational procedures tailored for the college student population.
Highlights
A college education is no longer viewed as only an opportunity for financially or intellectually privileged individuals, and for those hoping to access better financial opportunities [1].Despite rising college costs [2] and the dwindling purchasing power of forms of need-based financial aid such as the Pell grant program [3], there has been a substantial increase in student enrollment [4], including historically under-represented populations [5]
Numerous cross-sectional studies have examined the prevalence of food insecurity among college students in the U.S and reported rates range from 14% to 59% [8,9,10]
Our study contributes to the growing literature of student food insecurity in the U.S by describing the socio-demographic predictors of food pantry use
Summary
A college education is no longer viewed as only an opportunity for financially or intellectually privileged individuals, and for those hoping to access better financial opportunities [1].Despite rising college costs [2] and the dwindling purchasing power of forms of need-based financial aid such as the Pell grant program [3], there has been a substantial increase in student enrollment [4], including historically under-represented populations [5]. The number of food pantries on U.S college campuses has increased in response to students’ food insecurity, but limited information is available to describe the impact of this resource The objective of this cross-sectional investigation was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and food pantry awareness, use, and perceived barriers to use. After adjusting for sociodemographic correlates, factors such as identifying as being food insecure, international status, and receiving a student loan or a need-based federal financial aid (Pell grant) increased the likelihood of utilizing the campus food pantry. Despite these predictors, only 38% of food insecure students reported food pantry use. Conclusions: Food security interventions and administrative policy should consider a new model of the traditional campus food pantry that reduces concerns of social stigma and is supported by clear and ongoing communications of operational procedures tailored for the college student population
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