Food Hardship and College Students: Navigating Time and Access Barriers

Current food insecurity surveys rely on measures that may not adequately apply to college students’ unique circumstances, and food insecurity is often used in situations beyond household measures of economic access to food. This study sought to identify students at a small southeastern university who experience situations of food hardship based on distinct conditions of college life and to examine how university services, like food pantries, support them. Quantitative data from 194 survey respondents were used to measure students’ access and barriers to food and explore the use of the campus food pantry. Although results would have benefited from a higher response rate, as an applied research study, the findings informed potential improvements to campus services necessary to support students who struggle with food hardship.