ERIC Number: EJ1266904
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0316-1218
EISSN: N/A
Correlates of Food Insecurity among Undergraduate Students
Hamilton, Casey; Taylor, Darlene; Huisken, Anne; Bottorff, Joan L.
Canadian Journal of Higher Education, v50 n2 p15-23 2020
Food insecurity has been identified as an issue among postsecondary students. We conducted this study to describe the level of food insecurity in a sample of university students with a particular interest in the effect of marginalization. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a volunteer sample of 3,490 undergraduate students (44% participation rate) at one BC university campus between February and May 2017. Experiences of food insecurity were reported by 42.3% (n=1,479) of respondents. Among those who were food insecure 60.2% (n=891) were female. Logistic regression analysis indicated that females, students living on campus, those with a diversability (developmental, physical, or other disability), individuals self-reporting as belonging to a visible minority, and international students were more likely to experience food insecurity than comparator groups. When adjusted for gender, years on campus, and living situation, students who reported experiencing two or more forms of marginalization were 2.52 times more likely to be food insecure compared to students who do not report any form of marginalization. This study further supports concerns about high levels of food insecurity among university students in Canada. In particular, the findings highlight the risk for food insecurity among students who are already vulnerable to socio-economic inequity due to belonging to marginalized groups. Efforts to promote student well-being on university campuses need to address food insecurity by addressing system-level factors to equalize the field for all students at risk for food insecurity.
Descriptors: Hunger, Food, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries, Gender Differences, Individual Differences, Predictor Variables, On Campus Students, Racial Differences, Foreign Students
Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education. P.O. Box 34091, RPO Fort Richmond, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5T5, Canada. Tel: 204-474-6404; Fax: 204-474-7561; e-mail: csshe@cc.umanitoba.ca; Web site: http://journals.sfu.ca/cjhe/index.php/cjhe/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A