"It's a Feeling That One Is Not Worth Food": A Qualitative Study Exploring the Psychosocial Experience and Academic Consequences of Food Insecurity Among College Students

Background The issue of food insecurity is one of growing concern among institutions of higher learning in the United States. In addition to studies on the prevalence and risk factors, research is needed to better understand the mechanisms by which food insecurity affects students' health and well-being. Objective To critically explore the experience of food insecurity among college students and its impact on psychosocial health and academic performance. Design In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with college students to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which food insecurity affects their psychosocial health and academic performance. Participants/setting Twenty-five undergraduate students from a large public university in California who were recruited from a campus food pantry. Results Students discussed several themes related to the psychosocial effects of food insecurity: the stress of food insecurity interfering with daily life, a fear of disappointing family, resentment of students in more stable food and financial situations, an inability to develop meaningful social relationships, sadness from reflecting on food insecurity, feeling hopeless or undeserving of help, and frustration directed at the academic institution for not providing enough support. Students also discussed how food insecurity affected their academic performance through physical manifestations of hunger and the mental trade-off between focusing on food and focusing on academics. Conclusion These findings contribute to the understanding of what it means to experience food insecurity in higher education and can inform how universities support students' basic needs.