Examining levels of food security among college students and food bank participants: The Hunger Reduction in Vulnerable Environments Project (THRIVE)
Presentation Type
Event
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Sharon Thompson
Major
Sociology
Minor
Criminology
Presentation Abstract
Food insecurity is defined as 'A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food' (USDA). Nationally, 12% of households are estimated to be food insecure while the rates in South Carolina and Horry county are 18% and 14%, respectively. Food insecurity also affects 25% of two-year and 20% of four-year college students. To examine food insecurity an online and paper-pencil survey using the USDA's Household Food Security Survey Module was developed. Most survey participants (n=1,299) were 4-year college students (68.3%) followed by 2-year college students (15.5%), food bank participants (7.3%), and community members (4.7%). Most food bank participants identified themselves as low/very low food secure (50.5%) whereas 16.9% and 11.1% of 2-year and 4-year undergraduates identified themselves as having low/very low food security. Further outreach via educational efforts, policy changes, and awareness are needed to find solutions to prevent hunger.
Course
Swain 402
External Presentation
1
Location
Brittain Hall, Room 112
Start Date
16-4-2019 3:20 PM
End Date
16-4-2019 3:40 PM
Disciplines
Public Health
Recommended Citation
Trudon, Rachael and Rahman, Amber, "Examining levels of food security among college students and food bank participants: The Hunger Reduction in Vulnerable Environments Project (THRIVE)" (2019). Undergraduate Research Competition. 60.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2019/oral/60
Examining levels of food security among college students and food bank participants: The Hunger Reduction in Vulnerable Environments Project (THRIVE)
Brittain Hall, Room 112
Food insecurity is defined as 'A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food' (USDA). Nationally, 12% of households are estimated to be food insecure while the rates in South Carolina and Horry county are 18% and 14%, respectively. Food insecurity also affects 25% of two-year and 20% of four-year college students. To examine food insecurity an online and paper-pencil survey using the USDA's Household Food Security Survey Module was developed. Most survey participants (n=1,299) were 4-year college students (68.3%) followed by 2-year college students (15.5%), food bank participants (7.3%), and community members (4.7%). Most food bank participants identified themselves as low/very low food secure (50.5%) whereas 16.9% and 11.1% of 2-year and 4-year undergraduates identified themselves as having low/very low food security. Further outreach via educational efforts, policy changes, and awareness are needed to find solutions to prevent hunger.