Fortin Kelsey, Harvey Susan, Swearingen White Stacey
Health Sport and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2021 Mar-Apr;40(3):242-252. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2020.1754304. Epub 2020 Oct 13.
The aim of this research was to explore the complexity of college student food insecurity through eating patterns, food assistance, and health of food-insecure university students.
A mixed-methods approach utilizing qualitative focus groups and individual interview data and survey quantitative data was used. All data collection took place on campus at a large Midwestern university in the Spring semester of 2018. Participants were Midwestern university students (n = 30), freshman to graduate level classified, with very low food security (USDA-Six Item Short Form).
Seven percent (n = 2) were currently enrolled in food assistance programming (SNAP), and 30% (n = 9) reported family enrollment growing up (WIC and SNAP). Seven major themes emerged highlighting nutritional habits, food adaptations, health and well-being impacts, and additional campus programming addressing food assistance. Data triangulation informed a complexity diagram with the major categories of student characteristics of food insecurity, campus resource barriers, additional student needs, health and well-being impacts, and student adaptations and coping influencing the complexity surrounding student food insecurity.
College student food insecurity is multifaceted and complex. Common themes emerged among both individual-level factors and university structures, providing a deeper understanding of both the complexity and contributors to the college student experience. Further research and intervention are needed to explore this phenomenon and address student needs.
本研究旨在通过饮食模式、食品援助以及粮食不安全大学生的健康状况，探究大学生粮食不安全问题的复杂性。
采用了一种混合方法，利用定性焦点小组和个人访谈数据以及调查定量数据。所有数据收集于2018年春季学期在中西部一所大型大学的校园内进行。参与者为中西部大学生（n = 30），涵盖从大一到研究生阶段，粮食安全水平极低（美国农业部六项简表）。
7%（n = 2）的学生目前参加了食品援助计划（补充营养援助计划），30%（n = 9）的学生报告称其家庭在成长过程中参加过此类计划（妇女、婴儿和儿童特别补充营养计划以及补充营养援助计划）。出现了七个主要主题，突出了营养习惯、食物适应、对健康和幸福的影响以及解决食品援助问题的其他校园计划。数据三角剖分形成了一个复杂性图表，其中主要类别包括粮食不安全的学生特征、校园资源障碍、学生的其他需求、对健康和幸福的影响以及学生的适应和应对方式，这些因素影响着围绕学生粮食不安全问题的复杂性。
大学生粮食不安全问题是多方面且复杂的。在个人层面因素和大学结构中都出现了共同主题，这为更深入理解大学生经历的复杂性及其成因提供了帮助。需要进一步开展研究和干预，以探究这一现象并满足学生需求。
