from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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College students across the U.S. face a challenge that extends beyond the lecture halls and textbooks. A comprehensive research study conducted at Montana State University (MSU), "Nourishing student success and wellbeing: Unveiling the impact of food environments on student food security challenges through a case study from Montana," examined food insecurity among college students, and the findings point to a need for immediate action.
Research shows that food insecurity among college and university students nationwide surpasses the levels seen in the general population. Previous research on this issue has predominantly centered on demographic and economic factors, leaving other crucial risk factors unexplored. This study sought to address this gap by exploring factors such as students' place of residence and specific food environments. Additionally, this study was conducted during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. From March to November 2020, researchers collected online survey responses from a diverse sample of 443 MSU students.
KEY FINDINGS -
Approximately one-third of respondents experienced food insecurity during the study period.
- Despite students' reported knowledge of healthy diets and cooking skills, many were forced to consume inadequate and insufficient food, significantly affecting their dietary quality, overall wellbeing, and physical and mental health.
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The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, with just under half of the surveyed students (44%) reporting increased difficulties in accessing food.
- Students living off-campus faced unique challenges, demanding increased support from universities and governments to bridge the gap.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH Addressing food insecurity among college students is crucial for their overall wellbeing, academic success, and the promotion of a healthier society. Colleges and universities need to more strongly consider the food security and overall livelihoods of students living off-campus, specifically in expensive "college towns" such as this study's Bozeman, Montana.
Specific attention should be drawn to the situation of graduate students who, at least based on this study at MSU, seem to be struggling more severely with food insecurity than undergraduate students.
A program where students with a meal plan on campus can swipe their meals at campus dining halls, redirecting them to students in need of a meal, received positive feedback from study participants.
Addressing college student food insecurity requires further research and comprehensive strategies that go beyond providing access to affordable food, such as through addressing the underlying economic challenges, raising awareness about available resources, and implementing supportive policies and interventions on college campuses.
By recognizing the unique food security challenges of students and implementing targeted interventions, higher education institutions can foster a more supportive food environment for their students.
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College students across the U.S. face a challenge that extends beyond the lecture halls and textbooks. Research shows that food insecurity among college and university students nationwide surpasses levels seen in the general population. Graduate students shouldn't be overlooked, either. #Collegestudents #foodinsecurity #MontanaStateU Read the @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.017
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Photo above: A food box from Edmonton Food Bank, by Flickr member Mack Male. |
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A new series of Economic Pamphleteer columns by John Ikerd:
Perspectives on Agriculture, Food Systems, and Communities
Column 1: Sustainability: The defining question of the 21st century |
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"How can we create a regenerative, resilient, and resourceful food system capable of meeting the basic human needs of all indefinitely into the future? I believe this is the defining question of the 21st century. . . .
"Reforms will require changes in culture that prioritize resourcefulness, resilience, and regeneration over extraction, exploitation, and extermination. [In this new series of columns,] I plan to focus on the critical role that people in local communities must play in initiating and nurturing local cultures of caring, cooperation, and collaboration that are sufficiently successful to spread to national and global levels of organization. . . ."
Read John's full column for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.001 |
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John Ikerd has contributed Economic Pamphleteer columns to JAFSCD since its inaugural issue in 2010. See all his columns here.
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