RANGES OF FOOD SECURITY
The USDA created the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) which is a system that consists of four types of food security categories. The HFSSM is the main reference used to learn about food security in various populations.
High food security:
No reported indications of food-access problems or limitations.
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Marginal food security:
One or two reported indications—typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake.
Low food security:
Reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.​
Very low food security:
Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
Source: (Wunderlich & Norwood, 2006).
Signs of food insecurity include:
-Not having a sufficient amount of food
-Experiencing hunger as a result of running out of food
-Eating a poor-quality diet as a result of limited food options
-Having anxiety about getting more food
-Relying on food relief
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the lack of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain.
CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY
The causes of food insecurity are often linked to poverty, financial stressors, unemployment, and poor meal planning (Knol, Robb, McKinley, & Wood, 2017). Among college students, there are a variety of factors that may increase a student’s likelihood to experience food insecurity including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status and employment, financial literacy and financial management skills, and living arrangements.
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College, whether at a two-year or four-year, is expensive. With the increasing cost of tuition and housing paired with the outstanding amounts of student debt (loans and credit cards), some students do not have the financial resources to avoid picking up a part-time, sometimes even full-time, job (Lopez, Lopez-Cevallos, Cancel-Tirado, & Vazquez, 2014). Most students have to spend 40-59 hours per week balancing work and school just to get by (Hughes, Serebryanikova, Donaldson, & Leveritt, 2011). In a study conducted in 2011, “students who were employed were almost twice as likely to report experiences with food insecurity” (Lopez et al., 2014, p. 212).
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In addition, because not all students who experience food insecurity experience financial hardship, we must also consider spending habits, financial education, and financial management skills among college students (Hughes et al., 2011). Forty-three percent of college students worry about being able to pay their monthly expenses, and only 17% have received financial education through a personal finance course or workshop (Ohio State University, 2017).
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Lastly, students’ living arrangements, whether they live on-campus or off campus, can make a difference in the amount of food security they have. For students who live off-campus, either alone or with roommates, not their parents or guardians, food insecurity is much more of an issue (Morris, Smith, Davis, & Bloyd Null, 2016). This might be because students may have not developed a sense of independence, have the financial resources to provide themselves with food, or have access to resources that help them reach food security.
FOOD INSECURITY
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT
FOOD INSECURITY?
It is important to be aware of food insecurity, specifically on college campuses, because of the negative impacts it may have on college students. While balancing school, a social life, and sometimes work, college students are already at risk for developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Generally, they first experience anxiety, however, “when they are no longer able to respond to the demands in their life,” depression can occur (Galloway Burke, Duba Sauerheber, Hughey, & Laves, 2016, p. 133).
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If college students are struggling to acquire adequate amounts of food, they could be experiencing one too many struggles that could impact their mental state. Food insecurity has been associated with a variety of health concerns including undernourishment, inflammation, obesity, anxiety, depression, and aggression (Knol et al., 2017; Morris et al., 2016). In addition, food insecurity can also put students at risk for poor academic performance (Knol et al., 2017).
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All in all, food insecurity can be the start of a never-ending battle for some college students. It may not impact them all the same, but at some point students mental health will be affected. Whether their mental health is affected by food insecurity directly or indirectly, it is important that we become more aware of the ways that food insecurity can impact students lives. Food for Thought cares about the holistic development of students, and if we cannot first acknowledge and understand the impact that food insecurity has on a college students academic, physical, and mental health, then we cannot address the issue.