Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Buildings and Property Division, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Nov;30(6):e5401-e5411. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13962. Epub 2022 Aug 11.
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, severity, coping strategies and precipitating factors of food insecurity in university students in a large multi-campus Australian university during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, in context of providing information to inform institutional support. This was a cross-sectional analysis which was part of a larger university-led research project, the Thrive@Home study conducted at Monash University during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main outcome measures included: Sociodemographic characteristics, PROMIS anxiety, PROMIS depression and the six-item US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module. All variables were reported according to the four levels of food security status (high (H), marginal (M), low (L) and very low (VL)). Chi-squared tests were used to compare all categorical variables including demographic, mental health and food security status. A multivariable regression was conducted between food security status and mental health variables. Overall, n = 1315 students were included in the analysis. Of which, 5% were classified as having VL food security, 13% L, 14% M and 68% H. As food security worsened the likelihood of being unemployed looking for work, living alone and deteriorating physical health, diet quality and mental health increased. As food security status deteriorated the prevalence of needing to ask family or friends for food, shopping at multiple outlets for discounts, accessing emergency food relief, subsidised meals and financial assistance from organisations increased (p < 0.002). In regression models adjusting for covariates, depression (b (95%CI): VL = 7.2(4.1-10.3), L = 3.7(1.7-5.7), M = 2.0(0.1-3.8)) and anxiety (VL = 7.4(4.5-10.4), L = 3.5(1.5-5.4) and M = 2.0(0.3-3.8)) were positively associated with worsening food security. Food insecurity during COVID-19 was associated with worsening mental health. This paper provides targets for future university-led initiatives to promote student food security and supporting better access to physical and mental health services.
本研究旨在描述在 2020 年 COVID-19 封锁期间，一所大型多校区澳大利亚大学的学生中普遍存在的、严重程度不同的、应对策略和诱发因素的粮食不安全状况，并提供相关信息，以支持机构提供支持。这是一项横断面分析，是莫纳什大学（Monash University）开展的一项名为“居家茁壮成长”（Thrive@Home）的大学主导研究项目的一部分。主要观察指标包括：社会人口统计学特征、PROMIS 焦虑量表、PROMIS 抑郁量表和六条目美国农业部家庭粮食安全调查模块。所有变量均根据粮食安全状况的四个水平（高（H）、边缘（M）、低（L）和极低（VL））进行报告。采用卡方检验比较所有类别变量，包括人口统计学、心理健康和粮食安全状况。采用多变量回归分析粮食安全状况与心理健康变量之间的关系。总体而言，共有 1315 名学生纳入分析。其中，5%被归类为 VL 级粮食不安全，13%为 L 级，14%为 M 级，68%为 H 级。随着粮食安全状况恶化，失业找工作、独居和身体健康、饮食质量和心理健康恶化的可能性增加。随着粮食安全状况恶化，需要向家人或朋友索要食物、为了获得折扣在多个商店购物、获得紧急食品救济、获得补贴餐和从组织获得经济援助的比例增加（p < 0.002）。在调整协变量的回归模型中，抑郁（b（95%CI）：VL=7.2（4.1-10.3），L=3.7（1.7-5.7），M=2.0（0.1-3.8））和焦虑（VL=7.4（4.5-10.4），L=3.5（1.5-5.4），M=2.0（0.3-3.8））与粮食不安全状况恶化呈正相关。COVID-19 期间的粮食不安全与心理健康恶化有关。本文为未来大学主导的举措提供了目标，以促进学生的粮食安全，并支持更好地获得身心健康服务。
