Comparisons Of Food Insecurity Correlates During And Before The COVID-19 Pandemic Among Married Students Attending A University In Appalachia

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Sarah Morgan Adkisson (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Laura McArthur

Abstract: Objectives: Measure the food security status of married students with and without children during the Covid-19 pandemic, compare food secure and insecure households on correlates during and before the pandemic, and identify predictors for food insecurity. Design: Online questionnaire. Setting: University in Appalachia. Participants: Married students (n=169). Main Outcome Measures: Food insecurity status, dietary patterns, food access strategies, social support, demographics. Analysis: Descriptive, chi-square, linear regression. Results: Overall food insecurity rate was 29.6%, 32.9% for households with children, and 26.4% for households without children. Overall, about 20% reported food access was worse during verses before the pandemic. With greater access, food insecure students would have eaten more vegetables (57.5%), red meat (52.5%), whereas food secure students identified vegetables (57.5%), fruit (28.3%). Food access strategies identified were "prepared food at home" (52.1%), "purchased cheap, processed food" (34.3%) for the overall sample. "My spouse" was the most helpful source of support for 77.7% of the sample. Conclusions and Implications: The pandemic had a more severe unfavorable impact on the dietary patterns of food insecure than food secure households with children, suggesting a need for expanded programs to facilitate food access for married students, particularly those with children.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Adkisson, S. (2022). Comparisons Of Food Insecurity Correlates During And Before The COVID-19 Pandemic Among Married Students Attending A University In Appalachia. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2022
Keywords
married college students, food insecurity, Covid-19, dietary patterns, food access

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