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Abstract Objective: To examine the effect of food insecurity during college on graduation and degree attainment. Design: Secondary analysis of longitudinal panel data. We measured food insecurity concurrent with college enrollment using the 18-question USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Educational attainment was measured in 2015-2017 via two questions about college completion and highest degree attained. Logistic and multinomial-logit models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics were estimated. Setting: United States (US) Participants: A nationally representative, balanced panel of 1,574 college students in the US in 1999-2003 with follow-up through 2015-2017 from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Results: In 1999-2003, 14.5% of college students were food insecure and were more likely to be older, non-White, and first-generation students. In adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with lower odds of college graduation (OR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.88, p=0.01) and lower likelihood of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree (RRR 0.57 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92, p=0.02) or graduate/professional degree (RRR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.86, p=0.022). These associations were more pronounced among first-generation students. 47.2% of first-generation students who experienced food insecurity graduated from college; food insecure first-generation students were less likely to graduate compared to first-generation students who were food secure (47.2% vs. 59.3%, p=0.020) and non-first-generation students who were food insecure (47.2% vs. 65.2%, p=0.037). Conclusions: Food insecurity during college is a barrier to graduation and higher degree attainment, particularly for first-generation students. Existing policies and programs that help mitigate food insecurity should be expanded and more accessible to the college student population.
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Factors Associated With Food Insecurity Among a Community-Based Sample of Older Adults in a North Florida County
Food insecurity impacts the lives of 7.6 million U.S. adults aged 60 and older and is linked to numerous life challenges. This study examined the nature of food insecurity among community-based participants ≥65 years in a north Florida county and conceptualized food insecurity as encompassing the lack of food and individual adaptability. Thus, food insecurity was measured using three dependent variables: (1) worrying that food would run out, (2) cutting meal size or skipping meals, and (3) food not lasting. Logistic regression revealed that older participants, those with better-perceived health status, and those who were confident that they could find solutions to their problems had lower odds of reporting food insecurity. However, respondents who lived in low-income, low-access zip codes and those who received food assistance were more likely to report food insecurity. To improve outcomes and reduce healthcare disparities, solutions to food insecurity must vary in focus and approach.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1824267
- PAR ID:
- 10579928
- Publisher / Repository:
- Sage
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
- Volume:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 2333-7214
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Food insecurity hinders individuals from the healthy and sustainable life they truly deserve. Unfortunately, food insecurity and chronic health diseases affect millions of people across the United States. Food banks are constantly fighting the uphill battle against food insecurity to supply adequate, relevant, healthy meals to those who need them. Oftentimes hunger relief organizations lack data and software tools that could aid strategic decision-making. A local food bank faces this exact problem and is struggling to find clients that face chronic health diseases in their service area. This study uses data from the local food bank to develop visualizations that investigate the health considerations of the population they serve. The results easily found a specific county with the largest number of health considerations and a zip code with the highest number of individuals facing hypertension. Dominant chronic health considerations highlight the importance for food banks to diversify their food selections. It is important for the local food bank to know what foods are essential within each county and zip code area to provide services that will be valuable to those who need them. This study benefits food banks so they can yield better service to the community.more » « less
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Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased food insufficiency: a severe form of food insecurity. Drawing on an ecological framework, we aimed to understand factors that contributed to changes in food insufficiency from April to December 2020, in a large urban population hard hit by the pandemic. Design: We conducted internet surveys every 2 weeks in April–December 2020, including a subset of items from the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Longitudinal analysis identified predictors of food insufficiency, using fixed effects models. Setting: Los Angeles County, which has a diverse population of 10 million residents. Participants: A representative sample of 1535 adults in Los Angeles County who are participants in the Understanding Coronavirus in America tracking survey. Results: Rates of food insufficiency spiked in the first year of the pandemic, especially among participants living in poverty, in middle adulthood and with larger households. Government food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was significantly associated with reduced food insufficiency over time, while other forms of assistance such as help from family and friends or stimulus funds were not. Conclusions: The findings highlight that during a crisis, there is value in rapidly monitoring food insufficiency and investing in government food benefits.more » « less
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Objectives:To assess changes in food acquisition behavior, food insecurity, and dietary behavior and identify factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption during the transitional period (before and after the initial vaccine rollout for all adults) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design:Successive independent samples design. Online surveys were conducted from October 2020 to February 2021 (time 1, before the vaccine rollout) and from October 2021 to December 2021 (time 2, after the vaccine rollout). Descriptive analysis examined changes in food sources, food security, and daily FV consumption in cup equivalents (CEs) from time 1 to time 2. A multivariable logistic regression analysis examined factors associated with FV consumption. Setting:The Capital Region of New York State. Participants:1553 adults 18 years of age and older. Main Outcome Measure:Meeting the 2020-2025 MyPlate daily FV consumption recommendations. Results:There were statistically significant (P< .05) increases in the use of supermarkets, eat-in restaurants, farmers’ markets, and convenience stores from time 1 to time 2. Food insecurity (40.1% vs 39.4%) and FV consumption (2.6 CE vs 2.4 CE) slightly declined but not significantly. Home food procurement such as gardening and foraging (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.08-2.37) and shopping at food co-op/health food stores (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07-2.49) were significantly associated with the FV outcome, and these relationships were not modified by food security status. Conclusions:The present study highlights the importance of food sources in understanding adult dietary behavior during the transitional period of the pandemic. Continuing efforts to monitor access to food sources, food insecurity, and dietary behavior are warranted as various COVID-related emergency food assistance measures have expired.more » « less
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Abstract ObjectivesFood and water insecurity have both been demonstrated as acute and chronic stressors and undermine human health and development. A basic untested proposition is that they chronically coexist, and that household water insecurity is a fundamental driver of household food insecurity. MethodsWe provide a preliminary assessment of their association using cross‐sectional data from 27 sites with highly diverse forms of water insecurity in 21 low‐ and middle‐income countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas (N = 6691 households). Household food insecurity and its subdomains (food quantity, food quality, and anxiety around food) were estimated using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale; water insecurity and subdomains (quantity, quality, and opportunity costs) were estimated based on similar self‐reported data. ResultsIn multilevel generalized linear mixed‐effect modeling (GLMM), composite water insecurity scores were associated with higher scores for all subdomains of food insecurity. Rural households were better buffered against water insecurity effects on food quantity and urban ones for food quality. Similarly, higher scores for all subdomains of water insecurity were associated with greater household food insecurity. ConclusionsConsidering the diversity of sites included in the modeling, the patterning supports a basic theory: household water insecurity chronically coexists with household food insecurity. Water insecurity is a more plausible driver of food insecurity than the converse. These findings directly challenge development practices in which household food security interventions are often enacted discretely from water security ones.more » « less
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214231221328
