Kent Katherine, Visentin Denis, Peterson Corey, Elliott Catherine, Primo Carmen, Murray Sandra
School of Medical Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2025 Apr;36(2):e70037. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70037.
Increasing financial pressures, resulting from a period of high inflation in 2022 and sustained into 2024, may have exacerbated food insecurity among Australian university students. This study aimed to determine the change in prevalence and severity of food insecurity among Australian university students between 2022 and 2024.
Repeated cross-sectional, online surveys measured food insecurity using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module six-item short form (USDA HFSSM) in addition to six demographic and education characteristics. Students were categorised as being food secure or being marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure. Using a binary variable (food secure vs. food insecure), multivariate logistic regression identified students at higher risk of food insecurity. Independent proportions and logistic regression, adjusting for relevant predictors of food insecurity, measured change in the prevalence of food insecurity between 2022 and 2024.
In 2022 (n = 1249 students) and 2024 (n = 1603), younger, on campus, and international students experienced significantly higher odds of food insecurity. Marginal and moderate food insecurity were unchanged between 2022 and 2024. Severe food insecurity increased from 17% in 2022 to 29% in 2024 (95% CI -0.07, -0.13, p < 0.001), contributing to an overall significant increase in total food insecurity from 42% to 53% (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3, 1.8; p < 0.001).
This study has identified a high prevalence and worsening severity of food insecurity among Australian university students during a period of high and sustained inflation. SO WHAT?: There is a need for immediate action, including health promotion initiatives and policies to uphold Australian university students' right to food.
2022年的高通胀时期所带来且持续至2024年的不断增加的经济压力，可能加剧了澳大利亚大学生的粮食不安全状况。本研究旨在确定2022年至2024年期间澳大利亚大学生粮食不安全的发生率和严重程度的变化。
重复横断面在线调查除了测量六项人口统计学和教育特征外，还使用美国农业部家庭粮食安全调查模块六项简表（USDA HFSSM）来衡量粮食不安全状况。学生被分类为粮食安全或处于边缘、中度或重度粮食不安全状态。使用二元变量（粮食安全与粮食不安全），多变量逻辑回归确定粮食不安全风险较高的学生。独立比例和逻辑回归在调整粮食不安全的相关预测因素后，测量了2022年至2024年期间粮食不安全发生率的变化。
在2022年（n = 1249名学生）和2024年（n = 1603名学生），年龄较小、在校和国际学生经历粮食不安全的几率显著更高。边缘和中度粮食不安全在2022年至2024年期间没有变化。重度粮食不安全从2022年的17%增加到2024年的29%（95%CI -0.07，-0.13，p < 0.001），导致总体粮食不安全从42%显著增加到53%（调整优势比：1.6；95%CI：1.3，1.8；p < 0.001）。
本研究发现，在高通胀和持续通胀时期，澳大利亚大学生中粮食不安全的发生率很高且严重程度在恶化。那又如何？：需要立即采取行动，包括开展健康促进举措和政策，以维护澳大利亚大学生的食物权。
