Robbins Mary Kate, Spence Marsha, Steeves Elizabeth Anderson
Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Ave. Room229 Jessie Harris Building, Knoxville, TN, 37996-1920, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Mar 2;22(1):419. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12817-6.
There is increasing evidence of problematic rates of food insecurity among college students, yet few studies have gone beyond this to examine housing insecurity rates or rates of basic need insecurity (BNI), which is defined as having both food and housing insecurity, among the postsecondary population. BNI may have significant impacts on the mental and social health, and academic outcomes of college students, yet remains understudied. The researchers of this study are among the first to assess the prevalence of food insecurity, housing insecurity, and basic needs insecurity among college students enrolled at a large, public university in the Southeast and to identify factors associated with experiencing food, housing, and basic needs insecurity.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at a large, public university in the Southeast United States. All eligible, enrolled students (n = 23,444) were asked to complete an online survey, 2634 responded (11.2% response rate). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between demographic and financial factors and the outcomes of interest (food, housing, and basic needs insecurity).
High rates of food insecurity (48.5%), housing insecurity (66.1%), and basic needs insecurity (37.1%) were identified. After controlling for confounders, factors that were significantly associated with increased odds of students having basic needs insecurity included previous food insecurity (p < 0.001; Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.36; Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.64-4.28), being employed (p < 0.001, OR = 1.70; CI = 1.34-2.17), not receiving family financial support (p < 0.001, OR = 1.61; CI = 1.30-2.00), and living off-campus (p < 0.001, OR = 1.67; CI = 1.25-2.22). Juniors (p < 0.001, OR = 1.78; CI = 1.31-2.42), seniors (p < 0.001, OR = 2.06; CI = 1.52-2.78), Masters (p = 0.004, OR = 1.68; CI = 1.18-2.40), and PhD or EdD (p = 0.029, OR = 1.55; CI = 1.05-2.31) students were significantly more likely to experience basic needs insecurity than sophomore students.
This research identifies high rates of food, housing, and basic needs insecurity among college students enrolled at a large, public university. Financial factors such as being food insecure prior to attending college, working during college, and not having familial financial support were all related to BNI in this sample. Students who were more advanced in their education experienced more BNI than less advanced students. Innovative interventions with enhanced BNI measures, for example, partnering with financial aid offices to screen and refer students to food resources, are likely needed to address this multi-faceted problem.
越来越多的证据表明大学生中粮食不安全问题的发生率令人担忧，但很少有研究进一步探讨住房不安全率或基本需求不安全（BNI）率，后者被定义为在高等教育人群中同时存在粮食和住房不安全的情况。BNI可能对大学生的心理和社会健康以及学业成绩产生重大影响，但仍未得到充分研究。本研究的研究人员是首批评估东南部一所大型公立大学中大学生的粮食不安全、住房不安全和基本需求不安全发生率，并确定与经历粮食、住房和基本需求不安全相关因素的人。
在美国东南部的一所大型公立大学进行了一项横断面在线调查。所有符合条件的在校学生（n = 23444）被要求完成一项在线调查，2634人做出了回应（回应率为11.2%）。多变量逻辑回归模型用于评估人口统计学和财务因素与感兴趣的结果（粮食、住房和基本需求不安全）之间的关系。
确定了高比例的粮食不安全（48.5%）、住房不安全（66.1%）和基本需求不安全（37.1%）。在控制混杂因素后，与学生基本需求不安全几率增加显著相关的因素包括以前的粮食不安全（p < 0.001；优势比（OR）= 3.36；置信区间（CI）= 2.64 - 4.28）、就业（p < 0.001，OR = 1.70；CI = 1.34 - 2.17）未获得家庭经济支持（p < 0.001，OR = 1.61；CI = 1.30 - 2.00）以及住在校外（p < 0.001，OR = 1.67；CI = 1.25 - 2.22）。大三学生（p < 0.001，OR = 1.78；CI = 1.31 - 2.42）、大四学生（p < 0.001，OR = 2.06；CI = 1.52 - 2.78）、硕士研究生（p = 0.004，OR = 1.68；CI = 1.18 - 2.40）和博士或教育博士研究生（p = 0.029，OR = 1.55；CI = 1.05 - 2.31）比大二学生更有可能经历基本需求不安全。
本研究确定了一所大型公立大学中大学生的高比例粮食、住房和基本需求不安全情况。在这个样本中，诸如上大学前粮食不安全、大学期间工作以及没有家庭经济支持等财务因素都与BNI有关。教育程度较高的学生比教育程度较低的学生经历更多的BNI。可能需要采取创新干预措施并加强BNI措施，例如与财务援助办公室合作筛查学生并将其转介至粮食资源处，以解决这个多方面的问题。
