Food Security Status in Relation to Co-operative Enrolment Among University of Waterloo Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
5 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose: Co-operative (co-op) education facilitates development of workplace competencies but may have unintended consequences for financial stability and food security. This study examined the association between co-op program enrolment and food security status among a sample of undergraduate students. Financial insufficiency and strategies to cope with it were also characterized.
Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 167 co-op and 89 non-co-op students at the University of Waterloo from January to March 2019. Logistic regression assessed associations between co-op program enrolment and food insecurity.
Results: Twenty-four percent of co-op and 39.3% of non-co-op students lived in moderately or severely food insecure households. Adjusting for confounders, the odds of living in moderately or severely food insecure households were lower among co-op students (adjusted odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.97), though no association was observed when marginal food insecurity was included within the food insecure category. One-quarter (26.3%) of co-op students and 38.2% of non-co-op students reported financial insufficiency, which they tried to cope with by asking parents or friends for assistance or initiating paid work.
Conclusions: Co-op program enrolment was weakly associated with lower odds of living in moderately or severely food insecure households, and food insecurity prevalence was high overall. Efforts are needed to alleviate food insecurity among postsecondary students.
Résumé
Objectif. Les programmes d’enseignement coopératifs facilitent le développement des compétences en milieu de travail, mais pourraient avoir des conséquences non intentionnelles sur la stabilité financière et la sécurité alimentaire. Cette étude a examiné l’association entre la participation à un programme coopératif et la sécurité alimentaire chez un échantillon d’étudiants du premier cycle. L’insuffisance financière et les stratégies pour y faire face ont également été caractérisées.
Méthodes. Des données transversales ont été recueillies auprès de 167 étudiants d’un programme coopératif (EPC) et de 89 étudiants d’un programme non coopératif (EPNC) de l’Université de Waterloo entre janvier et mars 2019. Une régression logistique a permis d’évaluer les associations entre la participation à un programme coopératif et l’insécurité alimentaire.
Résultats. Vingt-quatre pour cent des EPC et 39,3 % des EPNC vivaient dans un ménage modérément ou sévèrement touché par l’insécurité alimentaire. Après ajustement pour les facteurs de confusion, les probabilités de vivre dans un ménage modérément ou sévèrement touché par l’insécurité alimentaire étaient plus faibles chez les EPC (RCA : 0,51, IC à 95 % : 0,27–0,97), quoiqu’aucune association n’ait été observée lorsque l’insécurité alimentaire marginale était incluse dans la catégorie d’insécurité alimentaire. Un quart (26,3 %) des EPC et 38,2 % des EPNC ont rapporté une insuffisance financière, qu’ils ont essayé de gérer en demandant de l’assistance à leurs parents ou à des amis, ou en se trouvant un emploi rémunéré.
Conclusions. La participation à un programme coopératif était associée à une diminution des risques de vivre dans un ménage modérément ou sévèrement touché par l’insécurité alimentaire, mais la prévalence de l’insécurité alimentaire était globalement élevée. Des efforts sont nécessaires pour atténuer l’insécurité alimentaire chez les étudiants de niveau postsecondaire.
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Financial support: The study was funded by an Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award held by Sharon Kirkpatrick.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authorship
M.Q. and S.I.K. designed the overall study. S.I.K. secured the funding. M.Q. and S.I.K. coordinated data collection. M.Q. prepared the dataset. M.Q. and S.I.K. formulated the research questions. A.P. conducted the analyses and led the drafting of the manuscript. M.Q and A.P. each have the right to list their name first on their CVs. All authors provided critical feedback.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 84 • Number 4 • December 2023
Pages: 211 - 217
Editor: Naomi Cahill
History
Version of record online: 5 June 2023
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© 2023.
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AlexandraPepetoneBSc, MonaQutubBSc, LesleyAndradeMHSc, RD, Michael P.WallacePhD, and Sharon I.KirkpatrickPhD, RD. 2023. Food Security Status in Relation to Co-operative Enrolment Among University of Waterloo Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
84(4): 211-217. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2023-003
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