Mental Health of Students Reporting Food Insecurity during the Transition to University
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
20 April 2021
Abstract
Purpose: The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university.
Methods: We drew on existing data from 4 samples of first-year undergraduates enrolled at 3 large universities in 3 provinces (Alberta n = 199, Québec n = 299, and Ontario n = 461 and n = 510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, and students were classified as food secure or insecure based on their responses to screening questions.
Results: Mental health (depression, anxiety, low satisfaction with life) was consistently poorer in students classified as food insecure across all samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity.
Conclusions: Students experiencing food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.
Résumé
Objectif. La présente étude avait pour but d’examiner les différences en matière de santé mentale et de bien-être entre les étudiants vivant ou non une insécurité alimentaire soupçonnée pendant leur transition vers l’université.
Méthodes. Nous avons utilisé les données existantes de 4 échantillons d’étudiants de première année du premier cycle inscrits dans 3 grandes universités de 3 provinces (Alberta n = 199, Québec n = 299, et Ontario n = 461 et n = 510). Les étudiants ont répondu à des sondages en ligne évaluant un large éventail de comportements et d’indicateurs liés à la santé, et ont été classés selon s’ils vivaient ou non de l’insécurité alimentaire sur la base de leurs réponses aux questions de sélection.
Résultats. La santé mentale (dépression, anxiété, faible satisfaction face à la vie) était toujours plus précaire chez les étudiants classés comme vivant de l’insécurité alimentaire dans tous les échantillons. L’ampleur du trouble de santé mentale était comparable au désavantage socioéconomique associé à l’insécurité alimentaire.
Conclusions. Les étudiants vivant de l’insécurité alimentaire sont proportionnellement beaucoup plus nombreux à avoir des problèmes de santé mentale en début de carrière universitaire, ce qui révèle un point d’intervention essentiel pour ces étudiants à risque plus élevé sur le plan socioéconomique.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 82 • Number 3 • September 2021
Pages: 125 - 130
Editor: Naomi Cahill Ph.D RD
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Version of record online: 20 April 2021
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© 2021.
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Andrea L.HowardPhD and Erin T.BarkerPhD. 2021. Mental Health of Students Reporting Food Insecurity during the Transition to University. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
82(3): 125-130. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2021-008
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