Food Insecurity, Depression, and Race: Correlations Observed Among College Students at a University in the Southeastern United States

Food insecurity is common among college students in the United States and is associated with poorer health-related outcomes and academic performance. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of food insecurity at a large, public university in Mississippi, a state with the second highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, and to examine the associations between food insecurity, depression, and race in this group of students. Food security was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form, and depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. In total, 131 students ages 18–24 participated in the study. Food insecurity was present in 38.2% of students surveyed. The odds of food insecurity were higher among African American students compared to Caucasian students (OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.38, 8.90). Students with very low food security had 4.52-times greater odds of having depression than food-secure students (p = 0.011, 95% CI: 1.42, 14.36). Neither body mass index nor body fat percentage were associated with food security status. Further research is needed on strategies to address the risk of depression among food-insecure college students and the racial disparity in food insecurity rates present among college students.

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Food insecurity among households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a study among social media users across the United States

Nutrition Journal ◽

10.1186/s12937-021-00732-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Niyati Parekh ◽

Shahmir H. Ali ◽

Joyce O’Connor ◽

Yesim Tozan ◽

Abbey M. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Social Media ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Online Survey ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Households With Children

Abstract Background In the United States, approximately 11% of households were food insecure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among adults and households with children living in the United States during the pandemic. Methods This study utilized social media as a recruitment platform to administer an original online survey on demographics and COVID-related food insecurity. The survey was disseminated through an advertisement campaign on Facebook and affiliated platforms. Food insecurity was assessed with a validated six-item United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module, which was used to create a six-point numerical food security score, where a higher score indicates lower food security. Individual-level participant demographic information was also collected. Logistic regressions (low/very-low compared with high/marginal food security) were performed to generate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95%CIs for food insecurity and select demographic characteristics. Results Advertisements reached 250,701 individuals and resulted in 5,606 complete surveys. Overall, 14.7% of participants self-identified as having low or very low food security in their households, with higher prevalence (17.5%) among households with children. Unemployment (AOR:1.76, 95%CI:1.09–2.80), high school or lower education (AOR:2.25, 95%CI:1.29–3.90), and low income (AOR[$30,000-$50,000]:5.87, 95%CI:3.35–10.37; AOR[< $30,000]:10.61, 95%CI:5.50–20.80) were associated with higher odds of food insecurity in multivariable models among households with children (and the whole sample). Conclusions These data indicate exacerbation of food insecurity during the pandemic. The study will be instrumental in guiding additional research and time-sensitive interventions targeted towards vulnerable food insecure subgroups.

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Food Insecurity among Senior Citizens in High Out-migration Areas: Evidence from Western Nepal

10.21203/rs.2.15487/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Devendra Raj Singh ◽

Saruna Ghimire ◽

Eva M Jeffers ◽

Sunita Singh ◽

Dhirendra Nath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Senior Citizens ◽

Short Form ◽

Senior Citizen ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Lower Odds ◽

Household Food

Abstract Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, particularly in low and middle-income countries such as Nepal. The demographic transition has resulted in a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food insecurity among Nepali senior citizens remain unknown. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing food insecurity among the older populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. Further, we also aim to assess the potential association between adult children’s migration and the food insecurity status of the left behind older parents.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity in senior citizens’ households was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24 - 0.95) had lower odds of being food insecure whereas households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) had two times higher odds of being food insecure (AOR= 2.26, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.76). Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.40), primary source of income as service/pension (AOR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08 - 0.89) or business (AOR= 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03 - 0.59) and participants who received geriatric allowances (AOR=0.05, 95% CI=0.01- 0.16) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with a senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with the migration status of adult children, and household socioeconomic status. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on households with older adults and the integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.

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Measuring household food security: the global experience

Revista de Nutrição ◽

10.1590/s1415-52732008000700004 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 21 (suppl) ◽

pp. 27s-37s ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Hugo Melgar-Quinonez ◽

Michelle Hackett

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Department Of Agriculture ◽

Governmental Agencies ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Security Status ◽

New Research

Measuring household food insecurity represents a challenge due to the complexity and wide array of factors associated with this phenomenon. For over one decade, researchers and agencies throughout the world have been using and assessing the validity of variations of the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Supplemental Module. Thanks to numerous studies of diverse design, size, and purpose, the Household Food Security Supplemental Module has shown its suitability to directly evaluate the perceptions of individuals on their food security status. In addition, challenges and limitations are becoming clearer and new research questions are emerging as the process advances. The purpose of this article is to describe the development, validation procedures, and use of the Household Food Security Supplemental Module in very diverse settings. The most common Household Food Security Supplemental Module related studies have been conducted using criterion validity, Rasch modeling and Cronbach-Alpha Coefficient. It is critical that researchers, policy makers, governmental and non-governmental agencies intensify their efforts to further develop tools that provide valid and reliable measures of food security in diverse population groups. Additional work is needed to synthesize a universally applicable tool able to capture the global human phenomenon of food insecurity.

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Food Insecurity among Senior Citizens in High Out-migration Areas: Evidence from Western Nepal

10.21203/rs.2.15487/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Devendra Raj Singh ◽

Saruna Ghimire ◽

Eva M Jeffers ◽

Sunita Singh ◽

Dhirendra Nath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Senior Citizens ◽

Senior Citizen ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Lower Odds ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Security Status

Abstract Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, in particular in low and middle-income countries. Nepal, a low-income country, is undergoing rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions with a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food security status among Nepali senior citizens are still unknown. This study aims to fill this gap focusing on the elderly populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. The study also aims to assess the potential impact of adult child migration on the food security status of the left behind elderly parents. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by means of logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity, in senior citizens’ households, was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24- 0.98) had lower odds of being food insecure and households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.65) had two times higher odds of being food insecure. Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.37) and involved in agriculture (AOR= 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.99) or business (AOR= 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with migration status of adult children, household income and ethnicity. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on the households with elderly citizens and integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.

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A pilot examination of the inter-rater reliability of the 18-item Household Food Security Module between cohabiting mothers and fathers

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibaa036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1306-1311

Author(s):

Jaime S Foster ◽

Kari Adamsons ◽

Marlene B Schwartz ◽

Emily A Taylor ◽

Amy R Mobley

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Mothers And Fathers ◽

Household Food ◽

Intraclass Correlations ◽

Item Level

Abstract Food insecurity, defined as the inability to access sufficient food for an active, healthy life, affects 11.1% of the US population and is primarily assessed using the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). The HFSSM is a self-report measure presumed to represent all household members, but it is unknown if cohabiting parents report food security differently. This pilot study aimed to determine (i) the inter-rater reliability of the HFSSM; (ii) the direction of any difference between responses to the HFSSM; and (iii) the item-level response similarities and differences among mothers and fathers of young children. Twenty-five pairs of low-income, food-insecure cohabiting parents of 2.5- to 10-year-old children participated in cognitive interviews assessing their level of food security using the USDA’s HFSSM and completed related questionnaires. Intraclass correlations were computed to compare the responses of each dyad on the HFSSM overall and by item. Results revealed that overall report of food security was significantly but weakly correlated (r = .40, p = .02) within dyads. The majority of fathers (60%) reported higher food security scores on the HFSSM than their respective female partners. Furthermore, item-level intraclass correlations revealed that some HFSSM questions had poor reliability between cohabiting parents. This research identifies that a potential shortcoming of the HFSSM is the under-reporting of food insecurity by fathers compared with mothers within the household. These findings have implications for the utility of this measure used in national monitoring of the nation’s food security.

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Measuring and Understanding Food Insecurity in Australia: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030476 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 476 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Fiona H. McKay ◽

Bronte C. Haines ◽

Matthew Dunn

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Measurement Tool ◽

Clear Understanding ◽

United States Department ◽

Household Food ◽

Wide Range

The number of Australians seeking food aid has increased in recent years; however, the current variability in the measurement of food insecurity means that the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in Australia is likely underreported. This is compounded by infrequent national health surveys that measure food insecurity, resulting in outdated population-level food insecurity data. This review sought to investigate the breadth of food insecurity research conducted in Australia to evaluate how this construct is being measured. A systematic review was conducted to collate the available Australian research. Fifty-seven publications were reviewed. Twenty-two used a single-item measure to examine food security status; 11 used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM); two used the Radimer/Cornell instrument; one used the Household Food and Nutrition Security Survey (HFNSS); while the remainder used a less rigorous or unidentified method. A wide range in prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the community was reported; food insecurity ranged from 2% to 90%, depending on the measurement tool and population under investigation. Based on the findings of this review, the authors suggest that there needs to be greater consistency in measuring food insecurity, and that work is needed to create a measure of food insecurity tailored for the Australian context. Such a tool will allow researchers to gain a clear understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity in Australia to create better policy and practice responses.

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Food Insecurity in Obese Adolescent Females in Tehran Schools: An Examination of Anthropometric and Socio-Economic Factors

Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal ◽

10.12944/crnfsj.7.1.28 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 280-286

Author(s):

AHMAD REZA DOROSTI MOTLAGH ◽

LEILA AZADBAKHT ◽

NAYERE ESMAEIL KABOLI

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Home Ownership ◽

Economic Status ◽

The United States ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department ◽

Obese Adolescent ◽

Mother’S Education ◽

Mother's Education

Background: Obesity and its complications affect much of the population of the world today. In addition to physical complications, psychological complications also increase with increasing obesity. It has always been important to pay attention to the growing trend of childhood obesity, which is a factor in adulthood obesity and future chronic illnesses. Today, one of the factors that have been identified as effective in weight gain and obesity in urban communities is food insecurity, which is not merely a lack of food but also includes related factors such as upbringing, behaviour, psychosocial adaptation, and physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of food insecurity on anthropometric indicators and other relevant factors in obese girls aged 11 to 14 years. Method: In this study, 452 obese female students aged 11 to 14 years, who had BMI more than 2SD above the WHO 2007 reference point, were randomly selected from several schools in three areas of Tehran. After obtaining written consent, demographic information and food security information was collected using a General and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) questionnaire. Anthropometric indices and fat percentage were also measured, based on skinfold and by callipers. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: There were significant differences between the level of father's education (p=0.004), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001), and home ownership (p<0.001) in the two groups, food secure and insecure. There were also significant differences between height (p=0.02) and weight (p=0.03) in both groups. Also, according to an alternative 4-group food security categorization (secure, insecure without hunger, insecure with mild hunger, and severe hunger), significant differences were observed only in terms of father's job (p=0.004), father's education (p=0.001), mother's education (p<0.001), family economic status (p<0.001) and home ownership (p<0.001). Conclusion: There were significant associations between parents' occupation and education status, home ownership, household economic status, height and weight of children, and household food security status.

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Examining Factors Related to the Food Insecurity–Obesity Paradox in Low-Income Mothers and Fathers

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/03795721211011133 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 037957212110111

Author(s):

Emily A. Taylor ◽

Jaime S. Foster ◽

Amy R. Mobley

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Low Income ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Obesity Paradox ◽

The United States ◽

Gender Disparity ◽

Household Food Security ◽

United States Department

Background: Prior research has indicated a varying relationship of food security and obesity risk between men and women yet factors affecting this relationship are unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine factors related to the gender disparity in the food insecurity–obesity paradox within a sample of low-income parents. Methods: Low-income cohabiting mothers and father pairs (n = 25) living with their child were interviewed individually using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and Coping Strategies Index to examine gendered factors related to the food insecurity–obesity paradox. Results: There was a significant ( P = .003) difference in report of adults in the household sacrificing consumption to feed young children between mothers (2.91 ± 0.92) and fathers (3.59 ± 0.73), with mothers reporting greater sacrifice and compromised diet quality to feed their children, but no significant correlation among body mass index, depression, and food insecurity was detected. Conclusions: Food insecure mothers may be more likely to compromise their diet quality to feed their children than fathers. This could help explain why the food insecurity–obesity paradox is significant only in women, and this work gives insights into gender-based differential consequences of food insecurity.

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College Students With Disabilities Report Higher Rates of Food Insecurity

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab035_094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 186-186

Author(s):

Grace Stott ◽

Jesse Stabile Morrell

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Students With Disabilities ◽

Online Survey ◽

Short Form ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Disability Status ◽

College Students With Disabilities ◽

Students With A Disability

Abstract Objectives To characterize the prevalence of food insecurity among college students with and without disabilities. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected between 2018–2020 at a mid-size, northeast public university as part of the ongoing College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey. An online survey collected self-reported data, including food security and disability status. Food security status was measured via the U.S Household Food Security Survey Module 6-Item Short Form, and categorized into very low, low, marginal, and high food security. Disability status was categorized into yes or no via affirmative answers to either one of two items related to limitations or use of specialized equipment. Chi-square was used to assess the differences in food insecurity prevalence among students with and without disabilities. Results The sample (n = 880) was 60.6% female, predominately white (94.3%), and had a mean age of 19 ± 1.2 years. One out of seven students (14.6%) reported a disability; 18.6% reported low or very low food security (13.2% and 5.5% respectively) and 81.4% reported high or marginal food security (67.6% and 13.8%, respectively). Students with a disability reported higher rates of food insecurity vs. those without a disability (35.9% vs. 16.0%, P < 0.001). Among students with a disability, 12.8% reported very low food security and 23.1% reported low food security, compared to 4.3% and 11.7%, respectively, among those students without disabilities. Conclusions College students with disabilities experienced far greater rates of food insecurity than students without disabilities. Further research, including qualitative work, can help to understand and develop better supports for this underserved segment of the college population. Funding Sources The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.

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Food Insecurity among College Students in the United States: A Scoping Review

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmz111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 327-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Cassandra J Nikolaus ◽

Ruopeng An ◽

Brenna Ellison ◽

Sharon M Nickols-Richardson

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Short Form ◽

Average Rate ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

The United States ◽

Representative Sampling ◽

Study Characteristics

ABSTRACT Reports of college students experiencing food insecurity (FI), defined as inadequate access, availability, adequacy, and stability of food, have sparked national calls for alleviation and prevention policies. However, there are a wide variety of FI rates reported across studies and even among recent literature reviews. The current scoping review aimed to develop a weighted estimated prevalence of FI among US students using a comprehensive search approach. In addition, study characteristics that may be related to the high variability in reported FI prevalence were explored. To address these aims, the peer-reviewed and gray literature on US college student FI was systematically searched to identify 12,044 nonduplicated records. A total of 51 study samples, across 62 records, met inclusion criteria and were included in the current review. The quality of the included studies was moderate, with an average rate of 6.4 on a scale of 0–10. Convenience (45%) and census (30%) sampling approaches were common; only 4 study samples were based on representative sampling strategies. FI estimates ranged from 10% to 75%. It was common for very low security to be as prevalent as, or more prevalent than, low food security. The surveying protocols used in the studies were related to the FI estimates. The USDA Short Form Food Security Survey Module (FSSM; 50%) and the USDA Adult FSSM (40%) prevalence estimates were larger than for the full USDA Household FSSM (13%). When these surveys referenced a 12-mo period, FI estimates were 31%. This was a lower FI estimate than surveys using reference periods of 9 mo or shorter (47%). The results indicate that FI is a pressing issue among college students, but the variation in prevalence produced by differing surveys suggests that students may be misclassified with current surveying methods. Psychometric testing of these surveys when used with college students is warranted.

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