{"title":"Academic Breaks and Food Security Status at a Midwestern Private University","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jneb.2024.05.089","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The prevalence of food insecurity on college campuses is higher than U.S. households; however it is unknown how academic breaks affect the food security status.</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Evaluate if breaks in the academic calendar change the food security status of undergraduate students at a Midwestern private university.</p></div><div><h3>Study Design, Settings, Participants</h3><p>This study used a repeated cross-sectional design. Two online surveys were distributed in November 2023 (the semester) and January 2024 (academic break). Eligible participants were at least 18 years old and full-time undergraduate students at a Midwestern private university.</p></div><div><h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3><p>Participants completed the USDA Food Security Survey Short-Form (6-item) with a 2-item screener at both time points to measure food security. Based on a raw score, each participant was assigned a food security status (high or marginal food security, low food security, or very-low food security) during the semester and break. Differences in food security status between the semester and break were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Ranked Signs Test. Participants also answered demographic, housing, transportation, and food resource questions at each time point. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe the study sample.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 57 participants completed both surveys. Most participants were female (75%), white (77%), and had financial aid to pay for tuition (98%). During the semester, 37% of the participants reported low or very-low food security in comparison to 30% during the break. There was no significant difference in students’ food security status between the semester and the break. Post hoc tests revealed a significant difference in food security status and housing during the break only [F(2,53) = 3.954, p=0.25]. Those living with a family member during the break had better food security than those living in off-campus housing.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted. Investigation is also needed to understand the relationship between housing during academic breaks and food security status.</p></div><div><h3>Funding</h3><p>Bradley University Office of Sponsored Programs</p></div>","PeriodicalId":50107,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499404624001891","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
The prevalence of food insecurity on college campuses is higher than U.S. households; however it is unknown how academic breaks affect the food security status.
Objective
Evaluate if breaks in the academic calendar change the food security status of undergraduate students at a Midwestern private university.
Study Design, Settings, Participants
This study used a repeated cross-sectional design. Two online surveys were distributed in November 2023 (the semester) and January 2024 (academic break). Eligible participants were at least 18 years old and full-time undergraduate students at a Midwestern private university.
Measurable Outcome/Analysis
Participants completed the USDA Food Security Survey Short-Form (6-item) with a 2-item screener at both time points to measure food security. Based on a raw score, each participant was assigned a food security status (high or marginal food security, low food security, or very-low food security) during the semester and break. Differences in food security status between the semester and break were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Ranked Signs Test. Participants also answered demographic, housing, transportation, and food resource questions at each time point. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe the study sample.
Results
A total of 57 participants completed both surveys. Most participants were female (75%), white (77%), and had financial aid to pay for tuition (98%). During the semester, 37% of the participants reported low or very-low food security in comparison to 30% during the break. There was no significant difference in students’ food security status between the semester and the break. Post hoc tests revealed a significant difference in food security status and housing during the break only [F(2,53) = 3.954, p=0.25]. Those living with a family member during the break had better food security than those living in off-campus housing.
Conclusions
Studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted. Investigation is also needed to understand the relationship between housing during academic breaks and food security status.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a global resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education; nutrition and physical activity behavior theories and intervention outcomes; complementary and alternative medicine related to nutrition behaviors; food environment; food, nutrition, and physical activity communication strategies including technology; nutrition-related economics; food safety education; and scholarship of learning related to these areas.
The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research and emerging issues and practices relevant to these areas worldwide. The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior welcomes evidence-based manuscripts that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests in nutrition and physical activity related to public health, nutritional sciences, education, behavioral economics, family and consumer sciences, and eHealth, including the interests of community-based nutrition-practitioners. As the Society''s official journal, JNEB also includes policy statements, issue perspectives, position papers, and member communications.