The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Financial Behaviors Among Undergraduate College Students

Research indicates that college student food insecurity is prevalent in institutions of higher education in the United States, often at rates higher than the respective state rate (Chaparro, Zaghloul, Holck, & Dobbs, 2009; Morris, Smith, Davis, & Null, 2016; Patton-Lopez, Lopez-Cevallos, Canel-Tirado, & Vezquez, 2014). Food insecurity negatively affects many areas of students’ lives including academic performance and achievement (Patton-Lopez et al., 2014; Silva et al., 2017) and feelings of social awkwardness and isolation (Henry, 2017). The Ohio State University’s Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness surveyed undergraduate students at a public institution in the Pacific Northwest to determine if food insecurity is prevalent, and if it is significantly associated with college student financial management behavior and financial self-efficacy. Chi-Square and logistical regression results showed that food insecurity is significantly associated with both positive and negative financial management behaviors and self-efficacy. Limited research has been conducted to analyze the relationship between college student food insecurity and financial behaviors, however this study contributes to the literature by bridging gaps in understanding regarding the relationship between food insecurity and financial behaviors in this population.masters, M.S., Family and Consumer Sciences -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0