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Food insecurity among university students in V ictoria: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Micevski Dee A.,
Thornton Lukar E.,
Brockington Sonia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1747-0080
pISSN - 1446-6368
DOI - 10.1111/1747-0080.12097
Subject(s) - food insecurity , environmental health , odds , vulnerability (computing) , population , food security , tertiary institution , medicine , demographics , cross sectional study , logistic regression , sample (material) , psychology , demography , geography , medical education , sociology , computer security , archaeology , pathology , computer science , agriculture , chemistry , chromatography
Aims Susceptibility to food insecurity can vary over a life course; however, a potential period of particular vulnerability is while studying at a tertiary institution. This pilot study aimed to assess the prevalence, severity and potential determinants of food insecurity among tertiary students attending a V ictorian‐based institution. Methods The present study employed a cross‐sectional design, involving use of a self‐reported questionnaire. The survey, conducted in 2012, was administered to a sample of 124 D eakin U niversity students and contains measures of food insecurity status, demographics and other potential explanatory factors. Descriptive and regression analysis was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of food insecurity and associations with factors that may support or hinder a student's ability to procure food, such as living arrangements, income and knowledge of support services. Results Food insecurity without hunger was reported by 18% of D eakin U niversity students, while an additional 30% reported experiencing the more severe form of food insecurity (with hunger). A lower odds of being food insecure was reported among students living with their family (without hunger OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.12–0.99; with hunger OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12–0.70), while a higher odds was found among those receiving government support (with hunger OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.05–6.04). Conclusions The reported prevalence of food insecurity among the tertiary student sample was greater than the general A ustralian population, suggesting they are a vulnerable group. This may be attributable to financial pressures faced when students are not living with their parents.