The Prevalence of Food Security and Insecurity Among Illinois University Students.
This study aims to define the food security status of Illinois university students and whether sociodemographic characteristics are related to that status.



A cross-sectional research design was used to analyze the food security status of undergraduate Illinois university students, employing a survey containing the Household Food Security Survey Module that was distributed via e-mail to student participants.



Four public Illinois universities were highlighted, including Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.



A total of 1,882 undergraduate students participated in the research study in April, 2013.



Variables include food security status and sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, and academic standing.



Statistical analysis included frequencies and chi-square tests.



The percentage of student respondents in the total sample who were considered food insecure was 35.0%. There were significant relationships between food security status and sociodemographic variables including race, grade point average, loan use, and living location.



This study suggests that 35% of respondents were food insecure based on quantitative assessment. Understanding the significant relationship between food security status and race, grade point average, loan use, and living location may be useful in developing services for those in need.
Department of Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Electronic address: loran.m.morris@gmail.com.
Loran Mary
LM
Morris
Department of Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
Sylvia
S
Smith
Department of Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
Jeremy
J
Davis
Department of Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
Dawn Bloyd
DB
Null
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
college; food insecurity; food security; hunger; school nutrition; university students