Food Insecurity and Student Wellbeing: Understanding the Experience of Utilizing Campus Resources

Presenter

Josephine Maria Beckett

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Caryn Brause, Department of Architecture, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C24, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 3 (C21-C30) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Food security is considered the consistent access to enough food in order to live a healthy life. The lack of food security, otherwise known as food insecurity, results in poor diet quality, insufficient sleep, disordered eating behaviors, and psychological distress. Additionally, food insecure students experience worsened academic performance as it is known to impact grade point average (GPA), retention rate, and graduation rate. Food insecurity is a prevalent issue amongst undergraduate students on college campuses in the United States. While college campuses aim to address food insecurity amongst students, there is evidence to believe that these efforts are not fully communicated to students and that students do not always take advantage of them. This study will be conducted at a large research university, which has an undergraduate population of over 20,000 students, in hopes of providing a greater understanding of how large campuses can support a broader range of students. By employing in-depth semi-structured interviews, this thesis aims to gain greater insight into the barriers for students accessing these services, gaps in education, and a fuller picture of the lived experiences of those that experience food insecurity.

Keywords

Food insecurity, Wellbeing, Campus resources

Research Area

Public Health and Epidemiology

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