Manboard Miriam, Johnson Cassandra M, Thornton Hannah, Biediger-Friedman Lesli
Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Oct 21;18(21):11087. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111087.
College students represent a unique population of adults, who may be more likely to experience food insecurity due to their transient circumstances, limited access to resources, and increased educational expenses. But little is known about how college students and their households mitigate food insecurity, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Household Observations of Meals and Environments (HOME) Study described how college students in the US utilized multilevel resources, including an on-campus food pantry, to maintain food security during the pandemic. A convenience sample of college students ( = 18) were recruited from an on-campus food pantry and provided quantitative and qualitative data through online surveys and in-depth Zoom interviews. Survey data were analyzed to describe sociodemographic characteristics. In-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify emergent themes. Social support and the use of an on-campus food pantry were primary factors in maintaining a food security safety net. Students faced barriers when trying to access federal and state food assistance programs and identified multilevel resources, their food security, and the role of social support as facilitators in their perceptions of food insecurity status and experiences. Findings highlight practical implications for research related to on-campus food insecurity interventions and policies to support food security among college students.
大学生是成年人中的一个独特群体，由于他们的生活状态不稳定、获取资源的机会有限以及教育费用增加，他们可能更容易经历粮食不安全问题。但对于大学生及其家庭如何缓解粮食不安全状况，尤其是在像新冠疫情这样的危机期间，人们了解甚少。家庭饮食与环境观察（HOME）研究描述了美国大学生如何利用包括校园食品储藏室在内的多层次资源在疫情期间维持粮食安全。从校园食品储藏室招募了一个方便样本的大学生（n = 18），并通过在线调查和深入的Zoom访谈提供定量和定性数据。对调查数据进行分析以描述社会人口学特征。对深入访谈进行录音、转录、编码并进行主题分析，以识别新出现的主题。社会支持和校园食品储藏室的使用是维持粮食安全保障网络的主要因素。学生在试图获得联邦和州粮食援助计划时面临障碍，并确定多层次资源、他们的粮食安全以及社会支持的作用是他们对粮食不安全状况和经历认知的促进因素。研究结果突出了与校园粮食不安全干预措施和支持大学生粮食安全政策相关研究的实际意义。
