Food Insecurity And Related Correlates Among Students Attending Appalachian State University

Objective: This study measured the prevalence and related correlates of food insecurity among students attending Appalachian State University. Methods: An online questionnaire administered to 6,000 randomized students measured food security, coping strategies, money expenditure, academic progress scales, use of social support, and sociodemographic. Results: 1,093 questionnaires were used for analysis. Analysis revealed that 46.2% (n = 505) experienced some degree of food insecurity, with 21.9% (n = 239) experiencing low food security and 24.3% (n = 266) experiencing very low food security. Regression analysis showed the following variables to be predictive of food insecurity: female gender, higher money expenditure and coping strategy scores, lower grade point average, students receiving financial aid, students who did not own a car, perceived fair/poor health status, and lower frequency of cooking for self or others. Most frequently reported coping strategies by food insecure students were purchasing cheap, processed foods (n = 282, 57.4%), stretching food (n = 100, 40.5%), and eating less healthy foods to eat more (n = 174, 35.4%). Regarding social support, 64% of food insecure students reported needing more assistance with food. Conclusions: The present sample showed an immediate need for food resource assistance.